Tragic Shooting Claims Life of U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Vermont
Authorities are conducting an investigation into a shooting incident that resulted in the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on a highway in Vermont, close to the Canadian border. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, January 20, 2025, and also left one suspect dead and another injured.
The FBI, along with Benjamine Huffman, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed the agent's death. The injured suspect is currently in custody following the events on Interstate 91 in Coventry, approximately 20 miles from Canada.
Coventry is situated near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Newport Station, an area that is part of the Swanton Sector, which oversees border security in Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire. This sector encompasses a significant portion of the international boundary with Canada, spanning 295 miles.
In the wake of the shooting, a section of the interstate was closed but reopened within a day. Huffman stated that the agent was killed "in the line of duty." The identity of the agent, affiliated with the Swanton Sector, has not yet been disclosed.
The incident took place at around 3:15 p.m. in Orleans County, which is home to about 27,000 residents and is located in the rural Northeast Kingdom region of Vermont. This area is adjacent to the Derby Line-Rock Island Border Crossing, a key access point to Quebec, Canada.
Vincent Illuzzi, the state's attorney for Essex County, reported witnessing what appeared to be a traffic stop involving a U.S. Border Patrol agent on I-91 shortly before the shooting was reported. He noted that the agent was operating an unmarked white pickup truck equipped with flashing lights and was engaged in conversation with an individual in a small blue car.
Illuzzi described the scene as unremarkable at the time, but upon returning to the highway later, he observed law enforcement vehicles at the same location. He emphasized the collaborative relationship between the U.S. Border Patrol and local police in the area, indicating that the Border Patrol often serves as the primary response team in emergencies.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Vermont State Police, and the Orleans County state's attorney's office have refrained from commenting further at this time. A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicated that additional information would be provided as it becomes available.
In response to the tragic loss, Vermont's Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, along with Representative Becca Balint, expressed their condolences to the agent's family. They emphasized the importance of providing adequate support for Border Patrol agents, particularly regarding staffing, compensation, and working conditions.
