His federal public defender declined to comment.
She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years if convicted of the charges.
However, as the case moves forward, prosecutors could bring more serious charges, alleging she intentionally killed a federal agent. Such charges could carry the death penalty.
An FBI affidavit filed in the case says the shooting occurred around 3 p.m. Monday when a Border Patrol agent stopped a 2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback carrying Youngblut and Felix Baukholt, a German national, on the Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont.
Baukholt, the registered owner of the car, appeared to have an expired visa, the affidavit states.
Youngblut was driving at the time of the stop and Baukholt was the only passenger as several Border Patrol agents approached the vehicle, according to the filing.
Youngblut allegedly “drawn and fired a handgun toward at least one of the uniformed Border Patrol agents without warning while standing outside the driver’s side of the Prius,” the affidavit states. “Baukholt then attempted to draw a firearm. At least one Border Patrol agent shot Youngblut and Baukholt with his service weapon.
Maland and Baukholt were both killed during the confrontation, officials said.
Youngblut was also struck by gunfire and taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, where “she is currently receiving inpatient medical treatment,” the affidavit states.
Authorities had been conducting periodic surveillance of the two men since Jan. 14, according to court documents.
A hotel employee in Lyndonville, Vermont, contacted police with concerns about a man and woman who checked into the property wearing “all-black tactical gear.” with protective equipment,” the affidavit states.
The employee reported that Youngblut was also “carrying an apparent firearm in an exposed carrying holster,” the filing states.
Lyndonville Police Chief Jack Harris said the two men were staying at the Colonnade Inn in the small Northeast Kingdom region town. He confirmed that management was uncomfortable with their dress and activities and therefore contacted the police.
Due to the federal investigation, Harris declined to comment further to the Globe. A person who answered the phone at the Colonnade Inn declined to comment to the newspaper.
Vermont State Police and Homeland Security Investigations personnel attempted to initiate a “consensual conversation” with the two men on Jan. 14, but they were uncooperative, the document states.
They “refused to have an extended conversation, saying they were nearby to consider purchasing property,” the filing states, adding that the two men left the hotel after speaking with investigators, who were then spotted walking in tactical gear. Sunday in downtown Newport, Vermont.
“Youngblut was observed carrying a handgun at this time,” the affidavit states.
Vermont is an open-carry state, meaning people can carry handguns “anytime and anywhere,” Harris said.
There is an exception for shotguns, which cannot be loaded while traveling by car, he added.
In a telephone interview, Vermont State Senator Russell Ingalls noted that a person walking around the Northeast Kingdom, the northeast corner of the state, in black tactical gear and carrying a pistol in a case, would attract the attention of residents and law enforcement.
“It would definitely attract suspicion, especially in our area where we know everyone,” he said. “It wouldn’t make much sense to us.”
Ingalls said it was very rare for people in the Kingdom to carry a gun, although a large majority of people own pistols and rifles.
“We don’t do it the way people do in some states. We’re not doing this to be a cowboy,” he said. “Yeah, there are people who will carry. But you won’t see a lot of people carrying guns outside of their body. Not people from Vermont, especially not people from Vermont.
After the fatal shooting, authorities seized a number of items from the Prius, including a ballistic helmet; a monocular night vision device; a tactical belt with holster; a magazine loaded with cartridges; two full respirators; 48 rounds of .380 caliber hollow point ammunition; a pack of shooting range targets, some already used; two portable two-way radios; a dozen electronic devices and several electronic storage devices; documents containing identification, utility, rental, travel, and lodging information related to multiple states; and “an apparent journal” found with Youngblut’s identification, the affidavit states.
Authorities seized other items as evidence, including a .380 caliber pistol resting on the hood of a Border Patrol Chevy Tahoe, a .40 caliber pistol and magazine resting on the hood of a Border truck Patrol F150, another .40 caliber magazine on the ground between the truck and the Prius, along with seven spent 9mm shell casings, two spent .40 caliber shell casings, one intact .40 caliber cartridge .40 caliber and an intact .380 caliber cartridge on the ground, the file states.
The affidavit stated that Border Patrol agents at the scene “each allegedly carried 9-millimeter service pistols exclusively” and that “agents likely seized all handguns from the suspects involved in the incident and would have been cleaned by removing the charger and opening the charger. the slide to eject any chambered cartridge before placing the firearms in a safe location, such as the hood of a law enforcement vehicle.
According to the affidavit, officers secured a .40-caliber Glock 23 “on or near” Youngblut after the shooting, while a .380-caliber M&P Shield firearm was secured “on or near” Baukholt after the incident.
The affidavit states that the evidence “is consistent with Youngblut firing the .40 caliber Glock 23 at least twice from the driver’s side of the Prius, which one or more Border Patrol agents returned with at least seven shots from 9 millimeters, then the officers returned fire. cleaning Glock 23 .40 caliber and M&P Shield .380 caliber pistols, resulting in the described casings and cartridges on the ground.
Investigators also collected two packages of suspicious cell phones wrapped in foil that were found behind one of the Border Patrol vehicles after the shooting, records show.
The document states that law enforcement had previously monitored the two men between 11:30 a.m. and 2:35 p.m. at a Walmart in Newport, Vermont.
“They saw Baukholt enter the Wal-Mart around 1:00 p.m. and exited with what was later confirmed by Wal-Mart employees to be two packages of aluminum foil,” the affidavit states.
Youngblut remained in the Prius in the driver’s seat while Baukholt entered the store, and that when “Baukholt returned to the vehicle, he was seen removing sheets of aluminum foil and wrapping items unidentifiable while sitting in the passenger seat,” and he was also seen making at least one phone call, according to the document.
Acting U.S. Attorney for Vermont Michael P. Drescher said in a statement that prosecutors will seek justice for Maland.
“The events that led to these prosecutions tragically demonstrate how the men and women of law enforcement routinely put their lives at risk as they attempt to keep our communities and our country safe,” he said. Drescher said. “The United States Attorney’s Office is deeply grateful to those who have the courage to do such dangerous work. We intend to honor them and the memory of Border Patrol Agent Maland by carrying out our duties as prosecutors to ensure justice is served. »
A former federal prosecutor not involved in the case said he believed additional charges would be likely.
Boston attorney Zachary Hafer said the killing of a federal officer in the line of duty is “a federal matter every time” and can carry the death penalty, depending on the circumstances.
The charges currently against Youngblut will likely be strengthened when the evidence is presented to a federal grand jury for indictment, Hafer said. If convicted of murdering a federal agent, she could face life in prison or the death penalty.
“I think if there’s any ambiguity about who shot the officer, it’s not going to be a death penalty case,” Hafer said . However, he said prosecutors could impose the death penalty if they allege Youngblut deliberately killed Maland. “To make it a capital matter requires malice, premeditation.”
Globe staff Shelley Murphy and Jeremiah Manion and correspondent Rita Chandler contributed to this report. Materials from the Associated Press were used in this report.
Travis Andersen can be contacted at travis.andersen@globe.com. John R. Ellement can be contacted at john.ellement@globe.com. Follow him @JREbosglobe.
