A Coal Grove man accused of shooting and killing his brother-in-law made his initial appearance in Lawrence County Municipal Court Friday.

Rodney Delawder, 33, of 2953 State Route 243, Coal Grove, was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree felonious assault and second-degree improper handling of a firearm.

Judge Donald R. Capper set bond for the man at $500,000 and appointed attorney Mike Davenport to represent Delawder.

There will be a probable cause hearing at 10 a.m. Feb. 8.

The charges stem from an incident the evening of Jan. 29 when Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to Delawder’s home to investigate a domestic dispute.

Upon arrival, officers found John A. McKnight, 48, face down in the kitchen and unresponsive. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner’s office.

The victim’s brother, Larry J. McKnight, 46, was the alleged assault victim.

Delawder had fled the house before officers arrived but was arrested without incident about an hour later at a residence at 349 Private Drive 2548 outside Ironton

The alleged murder was the second domestic dispute-related death in Lawrence County in less than a week.

On Jan. 27, law enforcement were called to a home on Hog Run Road after a man allegedly fired shots at the home following arguments with his daughter.

Roger W. Crisp, 43, of 44 Campground Road, Waterloo, fatally shot himself after firing at police officers, resulting in a standoff.

“After he was confronted by law enforcement officers, he stopped his pickup in front of the residence, stepped out and fired two more shots with the revolver,” a press release from the sheriff stated. “Mr. Crisp then retrieved a 270 caliber bolt action Mossberg rifle and fired three shots toward the Coal Grove Police cruiser that was parked.”

Crisp got back into his truck and turned the revolver on himself firing two shots into his chest.