HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Authorities have located the vehicle used in the tragic killing of a Maryland judge. However, they are urging the public to remain vigilant as the search for the suspect continues.
Pedro Argote, a 49-year-old man, is believed to be responsible for shooting the judge in his driveway shortly after the judge ruled against him in a divorce case. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement posted on Facebook, revealed that Argote’s silver Mercedes SUV was discovered in a wooded area in Williamsport, approximately 8 miles southwest of Hagerstown, where the shooting occurred.
“If you have any information about Argote’s whereabouts, please inform law enforcement immediately,” stated the sheriff’s office.
The fatal shooting occurred when Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, aged 52, was shot on Thursday evening, just hours after granting custody of Argote’s children to his wife. The incident was described as a targeted attack by Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert.
During a news conference on Saturday, Sheriff Albert expressed confidence in the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to locate Argote, stating, “We’re determined to apprehend this individual; it’s just a matter of time.”
The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Argote.
In a news release issued on Friday night, the Marshals Service revealed that Argote has connections to various locations outside of Maryland, including Brooklyn and Long Island, New York; Tampa and Clearwater, Florida; Columbus, Indiana; and unknown cities in North Carolina.
Sheriff Albert emphasized that Argote is considered “armed and dangerous.”
Judge Wilkinson presided over Argote’s divorce case earlier in the day, although Argote was absent from the hearing, according to Albert. The judge awarded custody of Argote’s children to his wife and ordered him to have no contact with them, in addition to requiring monthly child support payments of $1,120. The motive for the killing appears to be related to these court decisions, the sheriff explained.
Hagerstown, a city with a population of approximately 44,000, is situated about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore.
Threats and acts of violence against judges have unfortunately become increasingly common throughout the United States. In response, last year President Joe Biden signed legislation providing constant security protection to the families of Supreme Court justices. This decision came after the leak of a draft court opinion that could have overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision, resulting in protests outside the homes of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices.
In June 2022, a retired Wisconsin county circuit judge named John Roemer was targeted and killed in his own home. During the same month, an individual armed with a gun, a knife, and zip ties was apprehended near the residence of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Maryland, after making threats to kill the justice.
In 2020, a men’s rights lawyer, known for his anti-feminist writings, posed as a FedEx delivery person and fatally shot the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, while also injuring her husband at their New Jersey home. Judge Salas herself escaped unharmed.
Furthermore, in August, a woman from Texas was charged with making threats to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the Washington case involving allegations that Donald Trump conspired to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
