A father of a Steubenville rapist was shot dead after he fired at an armed Ohio judge outside a courthouse four years after his son was convicted of raping a girl and a few weeks after his son lost his eligibility to play football this season.

Nathaniel Richmond, the 51-year-old father of Ma'Lik Richmond, was killed after he 'ambushed' Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr, 65, on Monday morning.

Richmond fired at the judge several times as the official walked into the Steubenville courthouse, before the father was shot dead by a probation officer.

Bruzzese was rushed via helicopter to a hospital after he was shot at point blank range but is in stable condition and is expected to survive his injuries.

Richmond had fired at least five times at Bruzzese but the judge, who was armed, fired back. At least one of his bullets hit Richmond, according to officials.

Richmond's son Ma'Lik was convicted in 2013 of raping a 16-year-old girl and the young man was recently told he couldn't play football for Youngstown State University this season.

Bruzzese didn't preside over Ma'Lik's rape case and investigators are still looking for a motive for the shooting.

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Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr, 65, (pictured) was shot and wounded in Steubenville, Ohio on Monday. He was walking into work when Nathaniel Richmond fired at him. Bruzzese was armed and returned fire five times on Richmond. He is in stable condition at a Pittsburgh hospital

Richmond (left) is the father of Ma'Lik Richmond (right), who was convicted in 2013 for raping a 16-year-old girl at an alcohol-fueled party in 2012. Ma'Lik was recently told he couldn't play football for Youngstown State University this season

Bruzzese, 65, is in stable condition and is expected to survive his injuries. Police believe the Richmond laid in wait for the judge, as the man approached Bruzzese from a back alleyway

Ma'Lik served about 10 months in a juvenile lockup after being convicted with another Steubenville High School football player of raping the girl during an alcohol-fueled party in 2012.

The case brought international attention to the eastern Ohio city of 18,000 and led to allegations of a cover-up to protect the football team.

Youngstown State announced on August 10 that Ma'Lik would not be playing football this season but would remain part of the football program and participate in practice.

Ma'Lik was a walk-on for the team in January but a student recently launched a petition that called for his removal from the team, citing his rape conviction.

Investigators are still looking for a motive in the shooting and haven't found a connection to the rape case, said Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin.

A visiting judge from Hamilton County, where Cincinnati is located, handled the vast majority of the rape case.

Richmond, seen in a Facebook photo, reportedly had a criminal history and a case pending at the courthouse where the shooting occurred. Police are still seeking a motive in the attack

Investigators are still looking for a motive in the shooting and haven't found a connection to the rape case. Pictured: Richmond and Ma'Lik in 2013

Courthouse video on Monday shows both the judge and Nate Richmond firing about five times each, said Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla.

'Whoever thought this could happen here?' Abdalla said.

'He's right up to the judge. And that's when he fires another round and he shoved the judge over and then he takes off running towards his vehicle.

'This individual laid in wait, for our judge, and ... it just hurts. First thing on a Monday morning. You have a judge shot in front of his courthouse, and that affected me. ...

'This was ambush and attempted murder on our judge. Thank God he's not that good a shot.'

Jefferson County Juvenile and Probate Judge Joseph Corabi said the attack had to be intended because people don't know where judges park.

Corabi said he and other judges park in reserved spots next to the courthouse and then walk a few feet down what's known as 'Courthouse Alley' to a side entrance to the building.

Corabi added that Bruzzese is known as an avid hunter. He called him fair, hard-working, well-liked and 'a tough son of a gun.'

'He is very intelligent and he can cut to the chase,' Corabi said. 'He spots issues and he resolves the issues.'

Another man who was in the car with Richmond was taken into custody. Pictured: The scene where the shooting happened

Richmond was hit once by Bruzzese but killed by a probation officer. The gunman's body could be seen lying next to a car of a neighboring bank drive-thru (pictured)

Richmond's body could be seen lying next to a car of a neighboring bank drive-thru. Police say a man who was in a car with Richmond was taken into custody.

Abdalla said a passenger in the man's car is not considered a suspect at this time but is being questioned.

'He didn't get out of the car,' Abdalla said. 'Supposedly according to him, he wasn't aware what this guy was going to do.'

The second man was grazed by a bullet and taken to a nearby hospital, reported Weirton Daily Times.

The newspaper reports that he also told police he and Richmond had been drinking the night before when Richmond said he had to be in court on Monday morning.

Richmond reportedly had a criminal history and a case pending at the courthouse where the shooting occurred.

Steubenville City Manager James Mavromati said: 'We're starting to put this whole picture together, but basically what you have is the judge is going to work, these subjects were waiting for them.

'He comes up, shoots at the judge. The judge returns fire. We also have a probation officer that was behind the judge. He returns fire as he is shot at. The subject is deceased that he shot at.'

Bruzzese hears general and domestic relations cases as one of two judges serving in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court (pictured)

The courthouse is just across the Ohio River from West Virginia's northern panhandle, roughly 30 miles west of Pittsburgh.

The courthouse was closed for the day as local and state authorities helped to secure the scene.

Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham said that some courthouse workers witnessed the 'tragic situation' and that people would need time to process what had happened.

Bruzzese hears general and domestic relations cases as one of two judges serving in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court.

Bruzzese has served on that court since 1997, according to Ohio Supreme Court records. He was most recently re-elected in 2014 for another six-year term.

The judge was flown to a Pittsburgh-area hospital. Republican Governor John Kasich said he was told Bruzzese would survive.