Key takeaways:
- Judge Andrew Wilkinson was fatally shot in a “targeted attack” by suspect Pedro Argote
- Argote’s ex-wife had filed a petition for a protection order against him last year, accusing him of physical abuse and harassment
- Wilkinson had served on the bench since 2015 and the investigation into the shooting is ongoing
A Maryland judge was fatally gunned down in his driveway Thursday night after overseeing a divorce hearing that resulted in the suspected gunman losing custody of his children, authorities said.
Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, of Hagerstown, was fatally shot in what police believe was a “targeted attack” by suspect Pedro Argote, 49, authorities said at a press conference Friday morning.
The ex-wife of Argote had filed a petition for a protection order against him last year in Washington County District Court, accusing him of physical abuse against one of their children, harassment via text messages, constant monitoring through security cameras, and threats to take custody of their children, ages 12, 11, 5, and 3, over false claims of neglect.
In the petition, the ex-wife wrote there was no longer physical violence against the 11-year-old because during the most recent episode, she got in between the two and said that for him “to get to her he needed to hit me or kill me,” the petition says.
The Maryland Judiciary released a statement Friday expressing their condolences for Wilkinson’s family and friends. They said Wilkinson was a dedicated public servant who had served on the bench since 2015.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. No further details have been released at this time.
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