Authorities are investigating whether a long standing grudge led to the shooting death of an 82 year old retired Monroe County lawman. Eighty-one-year old Charles Hammer is accused of gunning down Herbert Proffitt last month in his Tompkinsville driveway. The killing rattled the tight-knit town where the victim's only son is the mayor.
Residents and law enforcement say Hammer had a history of violence with multiple arrests on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and more.
Proffitt was the town's former police chief and the county sheriff. In 2002 he arrested Hammer on multiple charges.