The suspected German citizen with a legal visa allegedly killed a United States Border Agent during a traffic stop in Vermont near the northern border, Fox News Digital confirmed.
“Our partners at the Department of Homeland Security have confirmed that the deceased subject is a German citizen in the US with a current visa,” an FBI Albany spokesman said.
Officials said Monday, Jan. 20, that 44-year-old U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland was shot during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 between Newport and Orleans, Vermont.
In an FBI statement, Albany said Maland was a veteran of the US Air Force, saying: “Our hearts are broken for our partners and we share their grief as they mourn the loss of their colleague.”
US BORDER PATROL AGENT KILLED IN VERMONT TRAFFIC STOP: DHS
A Border Patrol agent moves a robotic device past a Border Patrol vehicle on southbound Route 91 near Newport Vermont, where a U.S. border agent was shot and killed, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
Officials said there were two suspects in the car. Officials have confirmed that one of the suspects is dead and the other is injured and is currently being treated at an area hospital.
The FBI field office said it continues to work closely with federal, state and local officials to further investigate the incident.
BORDER AGENT KILLED IN VERMONT IDENTIFIED
“FBI Albany has numerous resources in the field, including our Evidence Acquisition Team (ERT), Victim Services, Digital Forensics and dozens of special agents,” they said.
On Monday night, authorities were seen using a robotic device to scan a backpack near what appeared to be a body on the ground at the scene.
An empty car on southbound Route 91 near Newport, Vermont, where a U.S. border agent was killed, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (David McGlynn for Fox News Digital)
The Border Patrol Union shared its condolences, saying on X, “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers of our fallen brother in green in Vermont.”
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Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Becca Balint (Vt.-AL) shared their condolences with the family.
“Border Patrol agents do important work protecting our borders. They deserve our full support in terms of staffing, pay and working conditions,” elected officials announced Tuesday. “We look forward to working with the agency to make sure they have all the resources they need to do the extremely important work that is their responsibility. Together, we must do everything possible to prevent future tragedies like the one that occurred today.”
The shooting came just hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term. He ran a fierce campaign border security and defending law enforcement.
