An Alabama man was charged with fatally shooting his passenger as they traveled on an interstate in Kentucky on Thursday, a law enforcement official said.

The driver reported the shooting around 8:30 a.m. while still traveling on Interstate 75-71 in Boone County, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, and was told to exit the highway, according to a news release from the county sheriff’s office.

The man, Tommy L. Hightower, 32, of Jasper, Alabama, was met by deputies and taken into custody, while the passenger was taken to a hospital, where he died. The passenger was Girlis H. Serratt, 36, also of Jasper, the sheriff’s office said.

Lt. Philip Ridgell of the sheriff’s office said the men initially were traveling to Michigan to visit friends. When that trip didn’t work out, they decided to stay and look for jobs.

Recently Serratt wanted to return to Alabama, but Hightower wanted to stay and look for work, Ridgell said. They argued while traveling on the interstate Thursday, leading to the shooting, he said.

Hightower was charged with murder and held in the Boone County jail.