A suspect is still on the run after killing a judge at his home in a “targeted attack” following a custody ruling, the sheriff says

Washington County Bar Association

Judge Andrew Wilkinson was “a pillar in our community,” one mourner said.

CNN
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A suspect is still at large after shooting a state judge in his home on Thursday, hours after the judge ruled against him in a child custody case, a Maryland sheriff said Friday.

“This was a targeted attack against Judge (Andrew) Wilkinson,” Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said.

The suspect, Pedro Argote, 49, “is considered armed and dangerous,” Albert said. Argote is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes, the sheriff's office said. He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plates.

Washington County Sheriff's Office

Pedro Argote

Argote was not present at the divorce hearing early Thursday at which Wilkinson awarded custody to Argote's partner, Albert said.

Wilkinson, a district judge, was in his own driveway – home with his wife and son – when he was shot, Albert said. The 52-year-old was found in the northern Maryland town of Hagerstown around 8 p.m. and then taken to a medical facility where he died, the sheriff's office said.

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Wilkinson's death sparked a wave of increased security measures for judges across the county. “Out of an abundance of caution, troopers were deployed last night to protect judges residing in Washington County,” Maryland State Police said Friday.

The court where Wilkinson worked now has a “high level” of security, and all judges and court staff receive increased security, District Court Administrative Judge Brett Wilson told CNN.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Argote's arrest, the agency said Friday.

Wilkinson's death is the latest in a series of threats and attacks against judges or their families. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, more than 1,300 threats or possible threats against federal court employees were investigated in fiscal year 2022.

Last year, a Wisconsin judge was killed in a targeted attack, officials said. In August, a Texas woman was charged with threatening to kill a judge overseeing Trump's federal election meddling case.

And in 2020, a lawyer arguing a case before U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas went to her home and opened fire, killing the judge's son and seriously wounding her husband. Since then, Salas has called for greater protection of judges' privacy.

Wilkinson was born in Agana, Guam and had served as an associate judge in the Washington County Court since January 2020, according to his court biography.

Colleagues who worked with Wilkinson as a lawyer and judge described his outstanding reputation.

“Drew was an exceptional lawyer and a man who loved his family,” his former law partner Jason Divelbiss said in a written statement. “His wife and children were always his top priority and my thoughts are with them at this terrible time.

“Drew was also very close to his brother and the office was always full of laughter when he came by,” Divelbiss wrote. “One of Drew’s greatest strengths was his ability to create stability in even the most difficult situations, which made him a great lawyer, mediator and ultimately judge.”

Wilkinson was “an excellent judge who was truly committed to his community,” said Wilson, the county court administrative judge. Court staff will have access to support services as they deal with Wilkinson's death, he said.

The slain judge also had “an infectious smile,” wrote Neil Parrott, a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

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