Law enforcement officers are searching the area where a silver Mercedes belonging to a man suspected of gunning down a Washington County judge was found on Saturday, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

A Maryland resident came across the vehicle in a wooded area of Williamsport, Maryland. Investigators said during a press conference that the vehicle belonging to suspect Pedro Argote may have been there since Friday—or possibly even Thursday.

The area search is being conducted before the vehicle is searched to ensure that Argote is no longer around. Investigators do not believe that the community in Williamsport or the surrounding areas are at risk, but they are being asked to avoid the search zone, Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said.

Investigators planned to tow the Mercedes to a secure place before searching it, Albert said.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

“We have a warrant. So, we’re going to wait until we clear the area and it’s not an active scene, and then we’ll tow the vehicle to a secure area for search warrants,” Albert said. “You know, we’ll pull the computer, GPSs from it, and then the contents if we find anything in the vehicle.”

The Maryland judge fatally shot Thursday night outside his home in Hagerstown presided over Argote’s divorce case, according to court records.

Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was found shot on his driveway on Olde Waterford Road around 8 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s office said.

Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died, officials said. A homicide investigation is underway.

“It is horrible. It is a horrifying loss — it’s hard to lose someone like that,” neighborhood resident Susan Porter said.

More From The Banner

Maryland hospitals took money from poor patients. Why haven’t they paid them back?

Joanna Meade reads aloud love letters from the 1920's in the sun room of her home on February 27, 2024. The letters were found inside of a wall during a renovation.

Secret in the walls: Hidden letters reveal love, lust, scandal in 1920s Baltimore society

Illustration shows black geometric fragments falling from the sky, partially obscuring the faint outline of Key Bridge central span. In the background a sunrise starts to illuminate the darkness.

Grieving my brother and the Key Bridge

Sheila Dixon, a ‘filthy’ street and residents who want politicians to put up or shut up