A Maryland judge is dead after a shooting on the driveway of his home, according to police.
Washington County Sheriff’s Officesaid in a releasethat deputies responded to a reported shooting in Olde Waterford Road, Hagerstown at around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.
The victim — identified as 52-year-old Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson — was “suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds” on his driveway, per the release. He was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he later died.
“This continues to be an active investigation; due to the ongoing investigation, certain details will not be released,” the sheriff’s office said.
As a precautionary measure, state troopers were assigned overnight to guard judges residing in Washington County, police spokesperson Elena Russo said, reportedTheWashington Post.
Washingtoncountybar.org
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“Horrible news in Washington County tonight,” former Maryland state delegate Neil Parrott, who represented parts of Washington County, wrote onsocial media. Police are actively searching for the murderer. Please pray for our police and for Judge Wilkinson’s family at this time.”
“We are a courthouse of six judges,” Administrative Judge Brett R. Wilson, Wilkinson’s colleague, stated, perThe New York Times. “We all know each other very well.”
Police investigate shooting of judge Andrew F Wilkinson.WJLA/ABC
WJLA/ABC
According to the circuit court’swebsite, Wilkinson studied economics at the University of North Carolina before attending Emory University School of Law in 1997. He was an attorney at Barton & Williams and Divelbiss & Wilkinson, and opened his own law firm in 2018 while serving on the board of directors for several associations.
After swearing in as a circuit court judge in 2020, Wilkinson toldThe Herald-Mailit was “an honor and it’s humbling,” adding, “I’m happy to serve."
source: people.com
