According to U.S. federal and state authorities, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot dead in Vermont on Monday while performing his duties near the Canada-U.S. border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identified the agent as David C. Maland, who was assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol's Swanton Sector, which covers the border dividing upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, eastern Ontario and Quebec.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection's thoughts and prayers are with Agent Maland's family during this difficult time,” the CBP statement said.
Vermont State Police said in a statement that the shooting occurred around 3:15 p.m. EST on Interstate 91 in the Coventry, Vt., area, about 30 kilometers south of the official border crossing in Stanstead, Que.
Local TV station WCAX reported that the agent he was shot during a road check. They say one person was shot and killed and another was shot and injured.
According to the Vermont State Police, the shooting is being investigated by U.S. federal authorities, including the FBI, with assistance from state authorities. It said the southbound lanes of Interstate 91 remained closed late Monday evening, while the northbound lanes were open.
“My prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to our Department, the agent's family, loved ones and colleagues,” acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman said in a statement.
The Canada Border Services Agency also expressed its condolences.
“We are very saddened by the death of today's U.S. Border Patrol officer while on duty in Vermont,” it said. “Our deepest thoughts and sympathies go out to the family, friends and colleagues of a respected member of the border security community.”
The Swanton Sector has the highest rate of illegal border crossings into Canada along the entire Canada-US border.
Most of the crossings in this area are along the New York and Vermont borders with eastern Ontario and Quebec.
In November 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents detained a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. on a motorcycle through Stanstead, Que., and was found in possession of a loaded .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a silencer and two Glock magazines with a total capacity of 30.9-millimeter bullets .
US President Donald Trump has linked his threats to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods to illegal border crossings and fentanyl flowing south across the border. The Canadian government recently announced it would spend more than $1 billion on additional border security measures, which will include new helicopters, drones and officers patrolling the border.
Illegal crossings into Canada through the Swanton Sector dropped sharply in December compared to the previous year, according to the latest U.S. data. In December 2024, border authorities intercepted 510 people compared to 1,178 people in the same month in 2023.