A 21-year-old woman was arrested and charged on Friday with assaulting federal law enforcement officers with a deadly weapon, following the shooting death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Monday on Interstate 91 near the Canadian border.
The woman, identified as Teresa Youngblut, was driving south on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont, around 3 p.m. on Monday when Border Patrol agents stopped her vehicle for an immigration inspection. During this encounter, Ms. Youngblut allegedly drew a handgun and fired at the agents without warning, prompting at least one agent to return fire.
David Maland, a 44-year-old Border Patrol agent, sustained injuries during the gunfire exchange and was later pronounced dead at North Country Hospital in Newport, Vermont. The sole passenger in Ms. Youngblut's vehicle, Felix Baukholt, a German citizen, was also shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Ms. Youngblut was hospitalized at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where she remained as of Friday. Her initial hearing in federal court has yet to be scheduled, and she faces charges of using a deadly weapon while assaulting a Border Patrol agent, as well as using and discharging a firearm during that assault.
If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, according to the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher.
Prior to the shooting, Ms. Youngblut and Mr. Baukholt had been under surveillance by law enforcement for nearly a week. An employee at a Lyndonville, Vermont hotel expressed concerns about the pair, who were reportedly seen in “all black, tactical-style clothing with protective equipment,” with Ms. Youngblut carrying what appeared to be a weapon in an exposed-carry holster.
Following the shooting, investigators searched their vehicle and discovered various tactical gear, including a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, a tactical belt with a holster, a magazine loaded with cartridges, ammunition, respirators, and two-way radios, according to an affidavit.
Witnesses noted that a few hours before the incident, the pair were seen purchasing aluminum foil at a Walmart in Newport, Vermont, which they later used to wrap unidentified objects while parked in a Toyota Prius hatchback. After the shooting, agents found what appeared to be cellphones wrapped in aluminum foil, and a bomb squad recovered additional electronics, including more cellphones and multiple laptops.
Ms. Youngblut held a driver's license from the state of Washington, with her last known address in Seattle. The traffic stop was reportedly initiated because Mr. Baukholt, the registered owner of the Prius, had an expired visa in a Department of Homeland Security database. Investigators had previously attempted to question the pair about their activities but received minimal cooperation.
An apparent journal belonging to Ms. Youngblut was also recovered by investigators. The incident has left some residents of the rural area feeling unsettled, particularly as the shooting occurred in the Swanton Sector, a region that has seen an increase in attempted illegal border crossings and arrests in recent years.
Vincent Illuzzi, the state's attorney in Essex County, Vermont, commented on the shocking nature of the events, emphasizing the need for clarity regarding the motivations of the individuals involved.
Mr. Maland, the deceased Border Patrol agent, was a Minnesota native and Air Force veteran, previously serving as a security officer at the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks. Acting U.S. Attorney Drescher expressed gratitude for the bravery of law enforcement officials, highlighting the dangers they regularly face.