A Maryland judge was shot and killed outside his home on Thursday night by a man who was unhappy with his ruling in a divorce case, police said. The suspect, identified as Pedro Argote, 49, is still at large and considered armed and dangerous.
According to police, Argote targeted Wilkinson and waited for him to return to his home in Hagerstown, about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore. He then shot Wilkinson multiple times in his driveway around 8 p.m., before fleeing the scene.
Wilkinson was sworn in as a judge in 2020, after working as a lawyer for more than 20 years. He participated in his religious community and mentored young athletes. His wife and two children are his surviving relatives.
The killing of Wilkinson has shocked the legal community and raised questions about the security of judges and their families. The Maryland State Bar Association issued a statement condemning the “senseless act of violence” and expressing its condolences to Wilkinson’s family and colleagues.
