A Border Patrol agent was shot and killed during a traffic stop along Interstate 91 in northern Vermont near the US-Canadian border on Monday. The incident, which occurred around 3:15 pm, also left one suspect dead and another injured, according to Vermont State Police.
The agent was identified as 44-year-old David Maland, according to Fox News. Maland was assigned to the US Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed the tragic loss in a statement, noting, “The incident is currently being investigated, and CBP will release additional information as soon as it becomes available.”
Vermont State Police closed the interstate in both directions to investigate the scene. Remote-controlled robots were also deployed to examine a backpack and other items found near the suspect’s body. The injured suspect was taken into custody for further questioning, and the immigration status of the suspects was not immediately revealed.
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman expressed condolences in a statement, saying, “Every single day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure.”
The shooting comes as President-elect Donald Trump was sworn into office on Monday. In his inaugural speech, Trump declared plans to address border security, announcing his intention to declare a “national emergency” regarding immigration.
“All illegal entry will be immediately halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of illegal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump said in his speech.
