A Maryland decide was shot to demise within the driveway of his Hagerstown residence Thursday, hours after presiding over the divorce listening to of the first suspect within the case.

Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was discovered affected by gunshot wounds at round 8 p.m. He succumbed to his wounds within the hospital, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office stated in an announcement.

The capturing was a focused assault, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert stated at a press convention Friday.

Law enforcement is now looking for Pedro Argote, 49, whose divorce case Judge Wilkinson had presided over. Mr. Argote, who authorities described as an individual of curiosity, was the plaintiff who introduced the case to courtroom, data present.

Mr. Argote legally owns a handgun and needs to be thought-about armed and harmful, stated the sheriff. 

Mr. Argote is 5 ft 7 inches tall, weighs about 130 kilos and has black hair and brown eyes. He drives a silver Mercedes GL450 SUV, with license plate quantity 4EH0408, in accordance with the sheriff’s workplace.

“The Maryland Judiciary mourns the tragic death of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. As we grieve his loss, we ask that you keep the Wilkinson family in your prayers and please respect their privacy. The Maryland Judiciary is actively engaging with law enforcement to assist in resolving this matter,” the Maryland Judiciary stated in an announcement.
Before the capturing, Judge Wilkinson had granted a partial judgment of absolute divorce within the case, in accordance with courtroom data. 

Part of the judgment concerned granting custody of Mr. Argote’s youngsters to his former associate, Sheriff Albert defined on the press convention. Mr. Argote was not current on the listening to on Thursday.

Mr. Argote doesn't have a previous prison report however deputies had responded to his residence twice prior to now few years for verbal home abuse, Sheriff Albert stated.

Law enforcement officers had been briefly posted on the residences of different circuit courtroom judges Thursday night time. But the sheriff’s workplace later decided there was not a menace towards them. The safety has since been lifted.

While the sheriff’s workplace is main the investigation, the Maryland State Police, Hagerstown Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service are helping.

Judge Wilkinson was sworn in as a circuit courtroom decide in January 2020.

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