Maryland judge fatally shot in his own driveway while his wife and son were inside the house

HAGERSTOWN, MD - On Thursday, October 19th, Washington County Circuit Court Assistant Judge Andrew Wilkinson was fatally shot in his own driveway.

According to authorities with the Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), the 52-year-old father and husband was found dead in his driveway on Olde Waterford Road with apparent gunshot wounds. 

The morning after the deadly shooting, authorities named Pedro Argote, 49, as a suspect. The sheriff's office said that his vehicle, "is a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450" with Maryland registration plates 4EH0408.

In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office said, "Anyone with information in reference to Argote's location is asked to not approach him but to immediately notify law enforcement. This continues to be an active investigation, certain details of the case will not be released to the public by law enforcement."

During a news conference on Friday, October 20th, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said that officials believe Argote targeted Wilkinson because the judge granted custody of his children to Argote's wife during a divorce proceeding just hours before the deadly incident. 

The next hearing was reportedly scheduled for October 31st. According to Albert, Wilkinson was shot multiple times in his driveway around 8:00 p.m. and his wife and son were inside their home at the time of the shooting.

Albert said that Argote did not attend the hearing between he and his wife on the morning of the fatal shooting. Court records show that Argote is listed as the plaintiff who brought the divorce case back in June 2022.

Albert also said that deputies had responded to the couple's home twice in the past "few years" for "verbal domestic assaults." Court records show Argote was named in a domestic violence petition in June 2022. However, that case was dismissed at the request of the person who asked for it.

Wilkinson has been an associate judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit since 2020. He was born in Guam in 1971 and earned his degrees from the University of North Carolina and Emory University School of Law.

The attorney representing Argote's children in the divorce case praised Wilkinson, saying, "Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him. He is a hero."

Governor Wes Moore said that he was "shocked, heartbroken and sickened" by the killing. He added, "Judge Wilkinson spent his career in defense of justice. We must now ensure that the perpetrator of this vile act faces justice and Judge Wilkinson's family gets the support they need and deserve."

According to the National Center for State Courts, Wilkinson's killing marks the third targeted shooting of a state judge in the past three years. 

The Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators issued a statement, which said, in part, "The assassination of Judge Wilkinson should be shocking to all Americans. Unfortunately, we fear it is not. The sustained attacks in recent years on the rule of law, public institutions of government and the courts are now having their effects. We ask all Americans to think carefully about this troubling trend."