Armed Suspect Sought In MD Judge's Death Lost Custody Of Kids: Sheriff

Updated at 3:10 p.m.

HAGERSTOWN, MD — A Maryland Circuit Court judge died after he was shot in the driveway of his Hagerstown home Thursday night, and a man who lost custody of his children earlier in the day has been named a suspect in the slaying.

The death of Washington County Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, of Hagerstown was a targeted attack, said Washington County Sheriff Brian K. Albert. He said Pedro Argote, 49, is a suspect in the homicide, and is considered armed and dangerous.

Albert declined to identify the type of weapon used in the slaying, but said Argote legally owned a handgun.

Court records show that Wilkinson presided over Argote's divorce case, the Associated Press reported. Albert said Friday at a news conference that Argote had lost custody of his children hours earlier as part of a divorce proceeding that Wilkinson oversaw.

Argote's wife was awarded custody of their children by Wilkinson just hours before he was shot in front of his Hagerstown home, with his wife and son inside. The Washington Post reported Argote was not at the hearing Thursday that was part of his divorce proceeding.

“Argote is considered armed and dangerous,” Albert said.

Anyone with information on Argote's location is asked to notify law enforcement immediately, the sheriff's department said. Argote is 5’7”, 130 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, displaying Maryland registration plates 4EH0408.

Gov. Wes Moore said state agencies are supporting the local law enforcement efforts in the homicide investigation and local, state, and federal partners are all part of the search for Argote.

"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,” Moore said. "I am shocked, heartbroken, and sickened by the killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. He was the victim of a cold-blooded, vicious, and targeted attack. My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinson’s family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him."

In a statement, the Maryland Judiciary said it is mourning Wilkinson’s death, and it is working with law enforcement to help resolve the matter and ensure the safety of judges, staff and visitors.

The shooting was reported about 8 p.m. in the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road in Hagerstown. Deputies found Wilkinson in the driveway of a residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, where he later died from his injuries.

Wilkinson issued a judgment Thursday in the Argote case, officially granting the divorce and awarding sole custody of the couple’s four children — ages 12, 11, 5 and 3 — to their mother, court records show. He ordered Argote to have no contact with the children and pay $1,120 a month in child support.

When Argote filed for divorce last year he accused his wife of neglecting her homeschooling responsibilities and failing to properly supervise the children. Her countercomplaint accused Argote of “cruel treatment” and said she couldn’t support herself financially. Days later, his wife requested a protective order, saying he was harassing her via text, controlling her every move, threatening to abuse their daughter and making false accusations against her.

“I don’t get out of the house without his knowledge," she wrote in court documents. “I know he has his weapon on him at all times.”

A judge granted a temporary protective order — which included a directive for Argote to surrender his firearms — but it was dismissed weeks later at the wife's request, court records show.

Argote repeatedly proposed that they continue living in the same house while they sorted out their digital advertising business and became more financially stable.

Wilkinson wrote in a March 2023 opinion that Argote's proposal was "frankly, a non-starter.” Argote was ordered to move out of his family’s home the same day.

Maryland State Police told WTOP troopers were sent out Thursday night to protect other judges in Washington County for “precautionary reasons.”

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued a statement on the death of Judge Wilkinson: “I’m appalled and saddened by the news that Judge Andrew Wilkinson was killed in a senseless act of gun violence. Judge Wilkinson was a dedicated public servant with a true appreciation for the rule of law, and his tragic murder represents outright disregard for the institution he was committed to upholding. My thoughts are with his family and with the entire Hagerstown community during this awful time.”

Wilkinson had been an associate judge in Washington County Circuit Court, 4th Judicial Circuit, since March 11, 2022., according to the Maryland Courts website. Before that, he served as a deputy state’s attorney for Washington County from 2004-2022, and an assistant state's attorney from 1993 to 2004.

Wilkinson was also a youth soccer coach and assistant baseball coach in Hagerstown, according to the Maryland government website. He has been a member of St. Ann Catholic Church since 1985.

The sheriff’s office plans to hold a news conference to share more details about the ongoing investigation, it said.

Wilkinson was a respected member of the community with “a contagious smile,” said Neil C. Parrott, a former delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates.

“Judge Wilkinson was an exceptional judge and was a pillar in our community,” Parrott said in a statement. “The events tonight are catastrophic for Washington County, for Maryland, and for our justice system. Judge Wilkinson served faithfully and will be severely missed.”

Wilkinson, a 1994 graduate of the University of North Carolina, was appointed to serve as circuit court judge by then-Gov. Larry Hogan.

The Hagerstown Herald Mail reported that when asked about becoming a judge in his hometown, Wilkinson said, “It’s an honor and it’s humbling, and I’m happy to serve.”

This story contains reporting by the Associated Press.