COVENTRY, Vt. — On Monday, a U.S. Border Patrol agent tragically lost his life in northern Vermont, near the Canadian border, according to authorities.
The acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Benjamine Huffman, confirmed the incident, stating that the agent died “in the line of duty.” The specific identity of the agent, who was part of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector, has yet to be disclosed. This sector is responsible for monitoring areas across Vermont as well as parts of New York and New Hampshire.
No additional information has been released by Huffman or by officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Vermont State Police reported that the shooting incident occurred on Interstate 91 in Coventry during the afternoon, approximately 20 miles away from the Canadian border. State police are currently collaborating with federal authorities, including the FBI and agents from the Department of Homeland Security, to investigate the situation.
Following the shooting, a segment of the highway was closed in both directions for roughly two hours. However, traffic resumed in the northbound lane shortly after 5 p.m.
Huffman assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted promptly. He remarked, “Every single day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure.”
The town of Coventry is situated near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station, which is part of the Swanton Sector that oversees a significant stretch of approximately 295 miles (475 kilometers) along the international border with Canada.
