BURLINGTON, Vt. — On Thursday, numerous law enforcement officials across Vermont paid their respects to a deceased U.S. Border Patrol agent by escorting him to a funeral home. This solemn event took place three days after Agent David Maland lost his life during a traffic stop close to the Canadian border.
A convoy of hundreds of vehicles with flashing lights accompanied the hearse that transported Maland from the University of Vermont’s morgue to a funeral home located in Burlington. His tragic death on Monday afternoon occurred while he was conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, which is situated approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of the Canadian border. While the FBI has provided limited information regarding the incident, they did confirm that a German national was deceased as a result of the shooting. An injured suspect is currently in custody and receiving medical treatment.
Maland, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, had dedicated over nine years to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as stated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. His family revealed that his career encompassed nine years in military service as well as 15 years within the federal government. Notably, he was involved in security at the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks in 2001.
In addition to his service, Maland was a skilled K-9 handler who initially served in Texas near the Mexico border before transferring to the northern border. His aunt, Joan Maland, expressed that he was on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend, a testament to the bright future that was cut short by this tragic event.
