Marshals offer $10,000 reward for arrest of suspect in Maryland judge killing

The U.S. Marshals Service announced on Saturday it will offer a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man accused of fatally shooting a Maryland judge on Thursday.

Authorities are looking for Pedro Argote, 49, who allegedly murdered Washington County Circuit Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, outside of his home in Hagerstown.

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Hours before the slaying, Wilkinson granted sole legal custody of Argote’s four children — ages 12, 11, 5, and 3 — to his ex-wife.

In June 2022, Argote’s wife filed a domestic violence petition against her husband, saying that he had been physically abusive to both her and one of their daughters. The petition alleged that she was fearful of leaving in part because Argote kept a weapon on him at all times. The petition was dismissed two weeks after it had been filed.

On Thursday, Wilkinson ordered Argote to pay $1,120 per month in child support and noted that the sole custody decision was in part based on “cruelty of treatment” and “irreconcilable differences.”

“I am deeply saddened by the senseless killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson,” said former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Friday morning on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. “This act of horrific violence not only takes away a respected community figure but also shakes the foundation of our justice system.”

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Argote has multiple ties outside of Maryland, including Brooklyn and Long Island, New York; Columbus, Indiana; Tampa and Clearwater, Florida; and unknown locations in North Carolina.

The press release from the Marshals Service says Argote should be considered armed and dangerous.