Maryland judge fatally shot in driveway issued judgment in suspect's divorce case

Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot in the driveway of his Maryland home

Law enforcement investigates death of Maryland circuit judge

According to FOX 5, Judge Andrew Wilkinson was shot and killed in his home in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Thursday night.

Maryland authorities on Friday morning named Pedro Argote as a suspect in the fatal Thursday shooting of Washington County Circuit Court Assistant Judge Andrew Wilkinson.

Wilkinson, 52, was found dead in his driveway on Olde Waterford Road Thursday evening with apparent gunshot wounds, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office is still searching for Argote, 49, and his vehicle, "a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, displaying Maryland registration plates 4EH0408."

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

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maryland judge fatally shot in driveway issued judgment in suspects divorce case

The Washington County Sheriff's Office on Friday named Pedro Argote as a suspect in connection with the shooting of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. (Washington County Bar Association/Washington County Sheriff)

Washington County court records show that Wilkinson presided over a judgment hearing in Argote's divorce case stemming from 2022 on Thursday. The next hearing was scheduled for Oct. 31.

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Wilkinson had been 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 earned his degrees from the University of North Carolina and Emory University School of Law.

maryland judge fatally shot in driveway issued judgment in suspects divorce case

Authorities identified Argote's vehicle as "a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, displaying Maryland registration plates 4EH0408." (Washington County Sheriff)

The sheriff's office said deputies responded to a shooting in the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road around 8 p.m. Thursday. The residence was identified as Wilkinson's home by The Associated Press.

maryland judge fatally shot in driveway issued judgment in suspects divorce case

Wilkinson was transported to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, where he died from his injuries. (WTTG )

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The judge was pronounced dead at Meritus Medical Center.

The sheriff's office is holding a press conference regarding the shooting later this morning.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. You can reach her on Twitter at @s_rumpfwhitten.

Authored by Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,Elizabeth Pritchett,Audrey Conklin via FoxNews October 19th 2023