COVENTRY, Vt. (WCAX) – Federal authorities continue to investigate Monday’s fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent that also left a suspect dead and another injured.
Authorities say it happened on Interstate 91 around 3:15 p.m. near the Coventry-Newport town line. Sources now tell WCAX News the name of the agent is David Maland. They say the on-duty officer was shot in the neck and died from his injuries. One of the suspects was also killed and another was wounded. There was no immediate information on what prompted the shooting.
A portion of the highway was closed in both directions for about two hours. The northbound lanes reopened just after 5 p.m. The southbound lanes reopened shortly before noon on Tuesday.
Essex County State’s Attorney Vince Illuzzi tells WCAX he was on the interstate Monday around the time of the traffic stop and saw an agent approaching a small, blue car that was pulled over. He said the agent was speaking with someone standing in front of his truck, behind the car.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamin Huffman on Monday issued a statement on the death of the Swanton Sector agent killed in the line of duty and offered condolences to their family. “Every single day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure. My prayers and deepest condolences are with our Department, the Agent’s family, loved ones, and colleagues,” he said.
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.”