On January 20, 2025, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Coventry, Vermont, approximately 20 miles south of the Canadian border.
Incident Details:
- Victim: The agent, identified as David Maland, 44, was conducting a routine traffic stop on Interstate 91 near Coventry around 3:15 p.m. when the incident occurred.
- Suspect: The shooter, who had overstayed his visa, opened fire during the stop, striking Agent Maland in the neck. The suspect was also killed during the exchange, and a woman present at the scene sustained injuries; her condition remains undisclosed.
Official Responses:
- Department of Homeland Security: Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman confirmed the agent’s death and stated that the FBI is leading the investigation. He emphasized that Border Patrol agents “put themselves in harm’s way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure.”
- FBI Investigation: The FBI’s Albany, New York office, in collaboration with the Vermont State Police, is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. Authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat.
Context:
This tragic event occurred just hours after President Donald Trump was sworn into office, during which he declared the border crisis a “national emergency” and pledged to end the “disastrous invasion” of America. In his inaugural address, President Trump vowed to restore “common sense” to border policing and announced plans to review the Laken Riley Act, aimed at detaining illegal immigrants with prior criminal records.
Community Impact:
The loss of Agent Maland, a 13-year veteran of the force, has deeply affected the local community and his colleagues in the Swanton Sector, which covers Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire. Local officials and residents have expressed their condolences and emphasized the importance of supporting law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect the nation.
#BREAKING A Border Patrol agent in Vermont is dead after being shot in the neck by an illegal immigrant who sources say was a “visa overstay.”
Sources say the agent was conducting a traffic stop when he was shot.
The shooter is also dead. A woman was injured in the… pic.twitter.com/oiHrHFDugO
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) January 20, 2025