Pedro Argote, 49, is the prime suspect in the murder of Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson. The Maryland Manhunt is now on its fifth day, as law enforcement agencies unite to capture the fugitive.

The murder occurred just hours after the judge ruled against Argote in a divorce case. The judge was shot in the driveway of his home.

During a news conference held on Saturday, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert provided updates on the ongoing manhunt, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to track down Pedro Argote.

Albert said it was a “targeted attack.” 

“We’re going to catch this guy; it’s just a matter of time,” Albert declared.

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Maryland Manhunt

The U.S. Marshals Service has also offered a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to Argote's arrest.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery of the silver Mercedes SUV believed to have been used by the suspect. It was found in a wooded area in Williamsport, approximately 8 miles southwest of Hagerstown, where Judge Wilkinson was fatally shot.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Sheriff’s Office urged the public to remain vigilant and report any information about Argote's whereabouts to law enforcement.

Judge Wilkinson presided over the Argote case earlier that day. At the hearing, Wilkinson awarded custody of Argote’s children to his wife. The judge also ruled that Argote should have no contact with his children and pay $1,120 per month in child support. 

Judges at Risk

It is worth noting that judges across the United States have faced increasing threats and violence in recent years. In response to these growing concerns, President Joe Biden signed a bill to provide around-the-clock security protection for the families of Supreme Court justices.

In June 2022, retired Wisconsin county circuit judge John Roemer was killed in his home in what authorities deemed a targeted attack. During the same month, a man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house in Maryland after making threats to kill the justice. Additionally, a men's rights lawyer posed as a FedEx delivery person in 2020, fatally shooting the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas and wounding her husband.

More recently, in August, a Texas woman was charged with threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case accusing Donald Trump of conspiring to