Washington County Circuit Court Judge Shot and Killed at Home in Hagerstown
A shocking incident occurred on Thursday night in Hagerstown, Maryland, where a Washington County Circuit Court Judge was shot and killed in a targeted attack. Authorities have identified the suspect as 49-year-old Pedro Argote, who lost custody of his children in a divorce proceeding presided over by Judge Andrew Wilkinson earlier that day.
Judge Wilkinson, 52, was shot in the driveway of his home while his wife and son were present. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at Meritus Medical Center. Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert has described Argote as armed and dangerous, urging the public to contact law enforcement if they have any information about his whereabouts.
The divorce hearing that resulted in the loss of custody for Argote occurred on the same day, with Judge Wilkinson presiding. It remains unclear how many children Argote has. The Maryland State Police deployed troopers to protect judges residing in Washington County that night as a precautionary measure. However, authorities believe there is currently no immediate threat to judges in the county.
Former State Delegate Neil Parrott expressed his condolences on social media, revealing that Judge Wilkinson had been shot multiple times. Judge Wilkinson had been serving as a judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit since January 2020. During his swearing-in ceremony, he expressed his commitment to serving the community. Born in Agana, Guam, in 1971, Judge Wilkinson attended the University of North Carolina and obtained his law degree from Emory University. He was also actively involved in youth soccer and baseball.
Hagerstown is located approximately 75 miles northwest of Baltimore, near the borders of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Investigations into this tragic incident are ongoing.
-Alex Sundby contributed reporting.
