The Lauderdale County judge who was ambushed in front of the courthouse Monday was shot in the back with a high-powered rifle, according to a fellow judge.

Chancery Judge Charlie Smith of Lauderdale County was shot when he was getting out his truck to go inside the downtown courthouse, Meridian Police Lt. Rita Jack told WTOK-TV Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the judge was taken to a hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound near his abdomen. Police believe one shot was fired, Jack said.

Meridian Police Chief Benny Debose could not be reached for comment.

Chancery Judge Larry Primeaux said Monday that Smith had emerged from surgery and was expected to be transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

In a Facebook post that night, Primeaux provided an update on Smith's condition and details surrounding the shooting, saying Smith was stable Monday but in critical condition at UMMC.

According to the post, Smith was "ambushed and shot in the back with a high-powered rifle this morning as he exited his vehicle at the courthouse on his way into work."

"He has several surgeries ahead," Primeaux wrote. "His injuries are serious. Court will be disrupted for months, although that is less a consideration than Judge Smith’s recovery."

Primeaux described Smith as "one of the kindest, most humble, most gentlemanly people I have ever met."

"I can’t imagine him provoking a violent reaction from anyone," he wrote before calling for "the community to protect us and all who work in the courthouse from irrational people."

Citing the fact that guns are now allowed in courthouses, he said, "we are not even safe there. This needs to be changed. If you want us to uphold the law for you, you have to make it safe for us to do that."

"God bless Chancellor Smith and his family," Primeaux wrote. "I hope he decides to return to public service, but none of us could blame him if he said that the cost is too high."

Smith's district includes Lauderdale and Clarke counties. Among cases that chancery judges in Mississippi handle are divorces, child custody cases, adoptions and guardianships.

Smith became a judge in January 2019 after more than 20 years as a youth court and county court prosecutor.

This story may update.

The Associated Press contributed to the report.

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Contact Sarah Fowler at 601-961-7303 or sfowler@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.