A 21 year old woman has been charged in the fatal shooting of a border patrol agent during a traffic stop in Vermont last week.
The United State Attorney’s Office said Teresa Youngblut, believed to be from Washington State, has been charged with one count of using a deadly weapon while assaulting a border patrol agent and one count of using and discharging a firearm.
The incident resulted in the death of 44 year old David “Chris” Maland, who was originally from Blue Earth and graduated from Fairmont High School. Maland was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was active security at the Pentagon during 9/11.
Also killed in the exchange of gunfire was Felix Baukholt, a German national, who was a passenger in the Toyota Prius being driven by Youngblut when they were stopped by border agents.
Charges say the two were put on law enforcement’s radar a few days earlier when a hotel employee in Lyndonville expressed concern about them “being dressed in tactical clothing and protective gear, while also being armed.”
Both were armed at the time of the traffic stop. Charges allege that Youngblut fired a handgun without warning toward at least one of the border patrol agents while standing outside of the vehicle. Baukholt also tried to draw a gun and an exchange of gunfire erupted.
If convicted, Youngblut faces a maximum of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.