The father of Mississippi’s agriculture commissioner has died, and authorities are investigating whether he was shot by a sheriff’s deputy.

The Simpson County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday it had “an officer-involved shooting.” The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said it is examining the case and declined to release details.

A source who spoke directly to law enforcement about the investigation but was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly told The Associated Press that it’s about the death of Harry Gipson, the father of Commissioner Andy Gipson.

Andy Gipson said Thursday that his father “passed away tragically after a yearslong struggle with a brain injury and related illness.”

Andy Gipson lives in Simpson County, as did his father. The Republican became agriculture commissioner in 2018 after serving in the Mississippi House.