Following the tragic shooting death of a high-ranking judge, Maryland State Police have been ordered to provide additional protection for other judiciary members, as per a report from an affiliate channel.
Last Thursday, in Hagerstown, a city in Northern Maryland, Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson tragically lost his life in a suspected shooting. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a residential location around 8 p.m. where they discovered Wilkinson in the driveway, evidently gravely injured from gunshot wounds.
Despite being rapidly transported to a nearby medical facility, Wilkinson unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. In response to this shocking incident, additional protection measures for remaining judges have been implemented, as revealed in the report.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced its intentions to host a press conference to disclose more about the ongoing investigation, although the timing for this has not yet been determined.
Wilkinson, an Agana, Guam native, has been associated with the Washington County Circuit Court since January 2020, as per his court biography.
Former Maryland House of Delegates member, Neil C. Parrott, lamented the passing of Wilkinson, who had been popular and respected within the community. According to Parrott, Wilkinson, besides being an exceptional judge, was also a cornerstone of the community, known for his "contagious smile".
Parrott described the incident as a tragedy not just for Washington County and Maryland, but for the entire justice system. He stated, "Judge Wilkinson served faithfully and will be severely missed."
