A U.S. Border Patrol agent was tragically shot and killed Monday on a highway in northern Vermont, near the Canadian border, according to authorities. The incident occurred on Interstate 91 in Coventry, approximately 20 miles south of Canada. Federal authorities confirmed the death, with the FBI and Benjamin Huffman, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, acknowledging the fatality.
Alongside the death of the Border Patrol agent, the FBI reported that a suspect was also killed during the encounter, while a second suspect sustained injuries and was taken into custody. Following the incident, authorities assured the public that there was no ongoing threat to safety. The agent, assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector, which covers Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire, has not been identified publicly at this time.
The shooting took place on Interstate 91, leading to the closure of part of the highway for about two hours. The northbound lane was reopened just after 5 p.m., and the investigation is ongoing. The Vermont State Police are assisting with the investigation, while the FBI’s Albany office is overseeing the federal response.
Huffman emphasized that the death occurred “in the line of duty,” and he expressed condolences for the agent’s family. He also highlighted the inherent risks Border Patrol agents face daily to ensure the safety and security of the U.S. homeland.
Coventry is located near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station, a part of the Swanton Sector that includes nearly 300 miles of the international boundary with Canada. In the wake of the tragedy, Vermont lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Representative Becca Balint, offered their condolences and expressed the need for better support for Border Patrol agents, specifically in terms of staffing, pay, and working conditions.
