(Scypre.com) – Maryland authorities have reported a deliberate and targeted attack on a judge that occurred outside his residence on Thursday evening. The victim of this incident is Washington County Circuit Court Assistant Judge Andrew Wilkinson. Law enforcement is actively searching for a suspect by the name of Pedro Argote, who is wanted in connection with Judge Wilkinson’s killing.
Authorities have revealed that earlier on the same day, Judge Wilkinson had presided over a hearing in which he granted child custody to a woman involved in Pedro Argote’s divorce case. Notably, Argote was not present during this proceeding.
Washington County Sheriff Brian K. Albert addressed the public during a Friday morning press conference, describing the incident as a focused assault on Judge Wilkinson. Pedro Argote, who is 49 years old, remains at large, and law enforcement considers him armed and dangerous. It has been confirmed that the suspect is legally in possession of a firearm. Tragically, Judge Wilkinson, aged 52, lost his life in the shooting that took place in his driveway on Olde Waterford Road in Hagerstown, a little after 8 p.m. on Thursday. It is worth noting that Judge Wilkinson’s wife and son were present in the residence at the time of the incident.
Authorities have disclosed that they had responded to incidents of “verbal domestic assaults” at Pedro Argote’s residence on two occasions within the past two years. However, there is no prior criminal record for Argote in Washington County. Argote’s vehicle is described as a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, bearing Maryland registration plates 4EH0408.
Court records from Washington County reveal that Judge Wilkinson had been overseeing a judgment hearing related to Argote’s divorce case dating back to 2022 on the very day of the incident. Another hearing had been scheduled for October 31. Judge Wilkinson had served as an associate judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit since 2020, according to his profile on the Washington County website. He was born in Guam in 1971 and had earned his degrees from the University of North Carolina and Emory University School of Law.
The judge was pronounced deceased at Meritus Medical Center. Sheriff Albert has indicated that there is no current belief of an ongoing threat to other judges in the area.