Authorities began an investigation on Tuesday following a deadly shooting involving a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont, which also resulted in the death of a suspect and left another individual injured on a highway close to the Canadian border.
Agent David Maland suffered fatal injuries during a traffic stop on Monday afternoon, as confirmed by a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A German national on a current visa was killed during the incident, while another suspect sustained injuries and has been apprehended; they are currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital.
The incident caused a temporary closure of part of Interstate 91, which is situated approximately 20 miles from the Canadian border, in Coventry, a small town with around 27,000 residents located in Orleans County’s Northeast Kingdom region of Vermont.
Maland, an Air Force veteran as confirmed by the FBI, was killed near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Newport, where he was stationed. His assigned area comprises Vermont, parts of New York, and New Hampshire, alongside a 295-mile stretch of international border with Canada.
Located around 12 miles north of Coventry by highway, the Derby Line–Rock Island Border Crossing is a significant route into Quebec, making northern Vermont home to a larger French-speaking population compared to much of New England.
In a statement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection expressed their condolences, stating that their thoughts and prayers are with Agent Maland’s family during this challenging time. Vermont’s Governor Phil Scott and local Senator Russ Ingalls expressed their sorrow regarding the tragic loss.
Vincent Illuzzi, the state’s attorney from neighboring Essex County, reported witnessing what seemed to be a Border Patrol traffic stop on I-91 just before the shots were fired. “I was driving along, and there wasn’t much traffic, and I noticed them on the right,” he stated in a phone call.
The agent was operating an unmarked white pickup truck equipped with red and blue flashing lights. The vehicle pulled over was identified as a small blue car. It appeared that the agent was conversing with someone positioned in front of his truck, behind the other vehicle. Illuzzi mentioned that everything seemed normal at that time but observed later that the same two vehicles remained in place, with more law enforcement authorities having arrived.
He noted that the U.S. Border Patrol collaborates closely with local and state police in his jurisdiction, highlighting the limited law enforcement resources available.
Agent Maland’s death marks the first instance of a Border Patrol agent being slain in the line of duty since 2014, when Agent Javier Vega Jr. was also shot and killed in Texas. Initially classified as off-duty at the time, Vega’s death was later re-evaluated and deemed to have occurred in the line of duty.
Past incidents involving Border Patrol agents include the 2010 homicide of Agent Brian Terry, which revealed a flawed federal gun operation called “Fast and Furious.” In 2012, Agent Nicholas J. Ivie was fatally injured in a remote region of Arizona while on duty, and in 2017, Agent Isaac Morales was fatally stabbed in Texas while off duty.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicated that further updates would be released later in the week. Vermonter state police and the Orleans County state’s attorney’s office opted not to provide comments on the situation at this time.
In a joint statement, Vermont legislators including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint extended their sympathies to the family of the deceased agent and advocated for better staffing, pay, and working conditions for Border Patrol agents.
