FBI arrests suspect in killing of Vermont Border Patrol agent | USAEMALL.com

The FBI announced the arrest of a suspect Friday in the killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland near the Vermont-Canada border. 

Washington state resident Teresa Youngblut, 21, was taken into custody following the fatal shooting on Monday, according to the FBI’s office in Albany, N.Y. 

“The United States Attorney’s Office District of Vermont has charged Youngblut with assault on a federal law enforcement officer,” it said. “Our hearts remain with our partners at U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector as they mourn this tremendous loss.” 

Maland, 44, was struck by gunfire during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 between Newport and Orleans, Vermont. 

This undated image courtesy of Joan Maland shows U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland, who was killed Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, following a traffic stop in Vermont.  (David Maland/Joan Maland via AP)

Maland, a Minnesota native and U.S. Air Force veteran, worked as a Border Patrol agent at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station. He spent nine years in the military and 15 working for the federal government. 

He was also a K-9 handler and previously served as a Border Patrol agent in Texas near the southern border, Maland’s family told the Associated Press. 

“On January 20, 2025, at approximately 3:00 pm, an on-duty, uniformed United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agent initiated a stop of a blue 2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback with [a] North Carolina license plate… to conduct an immigration inspection as it was driving southbound on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont,” read an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Fox News. 

“The registered owner of the vehicle, Felix Baukholt, a citizen of Germany, appeared to have an expired visa in a Department of Homeland Security database. Youngblut was driving the Prius, and Baukholt was the lone passenger in the Prius,” it continued.  

“Between approximately 3:00 pm and 3:15 pm, agents reported gunshots at the scene,” the affidavit said. “Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Cameron Thompson was notified of the incident and responded to the scene of the stop, arriving at approximately 3:35 pm. He spoke with two of the Border Patrol Agents involved in the incident. They described that both Baukholt and Youngblut possessed firearms and that Youngblut drew and fired a handgun toward at least one of the uniformed Border Patrol Agents without warning when outside the driver’s side of the Prius.” 

“Baukholt then attempted to draw a firearm. At least one Border Patrol Agent fired at Youngblut and Baukholt with his service weapon,” the affidavit also said. “The exchange of gunfire resulted in Border Patrol Agent Maland, Youngblut, and Baukholt all sustaining gunshot wounds. Baukholt was declared deceased at the scene as a result of his injuries.” 

Maland also died after being taken to a local hospital for emergency care, while Youngblut is currently receiving care at a facility in New Hampshire, according to the affidavit. 

A Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team that investigated the area following the gunfire found “two packets of suspected cell phones wrapped in what appeared to be aluminum foil that were left behind the USBP Tahoe after the Bomb Squad clearance,” investigators say.

A search of the Prius later uncovered “various pieces [of] tactical gear-including a ballistic helmet, night-vision-goggle monocular, a tactical belt with holster, and a magazine loaded with cartridges; two full-face respirators; 48 rounds of .380-caliber jacketed hollow point ammunition; a package of shooting range targets (some of which were used); two handheld two-way radios; approximately a dozen electronic devices and multiple removable electronic storage devices,” among other items, the affidavit added.

The FBI also said “Investigators had been performing periodic surveillance of Baukholt and Youngblut since on or about Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

“A concerned citizen – an employee of a hotel in Lyndonville, Vermont – contacted law enforcement after a male and a female had checked into the hotel to report concerns about them, including that they appeared to be dressed in all-black tactical style clothing with protective equipment, with the woman, later identified as Youngblut, carrying an apparent firearm in an exposed-carry holster,” according to the affidavit. 

“Investigators with VSP and Homeland Security Investigations attempted to initiate a consensual conversation with Baukholt and Youngblut, but they declined to have an extended conversation, claiming that they were in the vicinity to look at purchasing property,” it said.

It is unclear when Youngblut will make her first court appearance.

Fox News’ Audrey Conklin and the Associated Press contributed to this report.