COVENTRY, Vt. (AP) — A U.S. Border Patrol agent was fatally shot Monday on a highway in northern Vermont, south of the Canadian border, authorities said.
The death was confirmed by the FBI and Benjamine Huffman, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington.
In a statement, the FBI said that in addition to the agent, a suspect in the shooting was killed and a second suspect was injured and taken into custody during the encounter on Interstate 91 in Coventry, approximately 32 km from the Canadian border. border.
The FBI said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Huffman said the death occurred “in the line of duty.” The identity of the agent, assigned to the Swanton sector of the US Border Patrol, was not immediately released. The sector includes Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire.
Federal officials did not provide additional details but said they would be released as soon as they were available.
Part of Interstate 91 was then closed in both directions for about two hours. The northbound lane reopened shortly after 5 p.m. In addition to federal authorities, Vermont State Police were also investigating. The FBI responded from the office in Albany, New York.
Huffman said the death would be “promptly investigated.”
“Every day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way to keep Americans and our country safe,” Huffman said in a statement.
Coventry is near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Newport Station, which is part of the Swanton sector. The zone includes 295 miles (475 kilometers) of international border with Canada.
In a joint statement, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint sent their condolences to the agent’s family and said Border Patrol agents “deserve our full support in terms of personnel, salary and working conditions.
