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Border Patrol agent shot dead on Vermont highway, near Canadian border, authorities say

Border Patrol agent killed in Vermont
Border Patrol agent shot and killed in Vermont 00:32

Coventry, Vt. — A U.S. Border Patrol agent was fatally shot Monday on a highway in northern Vermont south of the Canadian border, authorities said.

The agent was identified as David C. Maland by a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson on Tuesday afternoon. 

"Agent Maland succumbed to injuries caused by gunfire following a traffic stop in Coventry, Vermont. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's thoughts and prayers are with Agent Maland's family during this difficult time," the spokesperson said.

The death was confirmed earlier by the FBI and Benjamine Huffman, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington.

At 3:15 p.m. Monday, Maland was conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 91, about 20 miles from the Canadian border, when "an exchange of gunfire occurred," the FBI said. Maland was shot, one suspect in the shooting was killed and a second suspect was wounded and taken into custody. 

The FBI did not release the names of the suspects but the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the one killed was from Germany and had been in the U.S. on a current visa, the FBI said in a news release Tuesday.

The FBI said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Huffman said the death occurred "in the line of duty." Maland was assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol's Swanton Sector, wasn't immediately released. The sector encompasses Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire.

Federal authorities didn't provide additional details but said they would be released as they became available.

A portion of Interstate 91 was closed in both directions for about two hours afterward. The northbound lane reopened just after 5 p.m. Besides federal authorities, the Vermont State Police were also investigating. The FBI responded from the Albany, New York, office.

Huffman said the death would be "swiftly investigated."

"Every single day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm's way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure," Huffman said in a statement.

Coventry is close to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Newport Station, part of the Swanton Sector. The area includes 295 miles of international boundary with Canada.

In a joint statement, Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint sent condolences to the agent's family and said Border Patrol agents "deserve our full support in terms of staffing, pay and working conditions."

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