A Washington state woman has been charged in the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont, which happened days after officials began watching her and a German companion who also died in the roadside shootout, the FBI said Friday.
Teresa Youngblut, 21, has been charged with two weapons offenses related to the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44. He died during a shootout on Monday in Coventry, a small town located about 20 miles from the Canadian border.
An FBI statement states that a border agent stopped Youngblut and Felix Baukholt on Interstate 91 to check their immigration status. Initially, it seemed that Baukholt had an expiring visa, based on a Department of Homeland Security database. However, the FBI confirmed on Friday that his visa was actually valid.
The FBI claims that Youngblut, who was driving Baukholt’s car, suddenly got out and started shooting at Maland and other agents. The document says that Baukholt tried to pull out a gun but was shot instead.
At least one border guard shot at Youngblut and Baukholt, but officials haven’t said which bullets struck which person.
“The events leading to this prosecution tragically show how the men and women of law enforcement regularly put their lives on the line as they try to keep our communities and our country safe,” acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said in a statement. “We plan to honor them and remember Border Patrol Agent Maland by doing our job as prosecutors to ensure justice is served.”
Investigators had been performing “periodic surveillance” of Youngblut and Baukholt since Jan. 14 after an employee at a hotel where they were staying reported worries after seeing Youngblut carrying a gun and she and Baukholt wearing black tactical gear, according to the affidavit. The investigators tried to talk to the two people, who claimed they were in the area to buy property. However, they did not want to have a long chat, according to the FBI.
About two hours before the shooting, detectives saw Baukholt leave a Walmart in Newport, just north of Coventry, carrying two packages of aluminum foil. The affidavit says he was seen wrapping unknown items while sitting in the passenger seat.
After the shootout, police searched the car and found cellphones wrapped in foil, a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, respirators, and ammunition, according to the FBI. They discovered a package of shooting range targets, some of which were used, two-way radios, around twelve electronic devices, travel and accommodation details for several states, and what seemed to be a diary.
The public defender’s office that will be defending Youngblut did not respond to a voicemail seeking further information. A man who answered a phone listing for Youngblut’s family in Washington said he was Youngblut’s grandfather but would not make any comments. No one opened the door at the homes in Seattle and Redmond, Washington, linked to Youngblut, and neighbors chose not to speak.
Maland’s aunt, Joan Maland, said that the family would not make any comments about the arrest. The family thanked everyone for their help.
“They said it’s hard to believe that people who never met David Christopher Maland would send their condolences and kind words of support.” “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We are still grieving. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
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