A Border Patrol Agent (BPA) and a male subject were killed during a vehicle stop in Vermont on January 20, 2025. The incident occurred near Coventry, VT, when BPAs initiated a stop of a blue Toyota Prius driven by a U.S. citizen female with a German male passenger.
According to reports, the driver drew a firearm and opened fire, injuring one BPA critically. Another BPA returned fire, injuring the driver and fatally wounding the passenger after he allegedly attempted to draw his weapon. The injured BPA was transported to North Country Hospital but succumbed to his wounds.
Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after, providing medical care to the driver who was then taken to North Country Hospital. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities found suspicious packages wrapped in aluminum foil inside the vehicle, prompting an investigation by the Vermont State Police (VSP) Bomb Squad and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who took control of the scene. On January 21, VSP cleared the vehicle and took custody of the passenger's remains for examination by the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington.
The FBI and United States Attorney’s Office are investigating alongside CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). "Medical Examiner personnel advised OPR that preliminary cause of death was trauma," while classifying it as homicide.
On February 6, 2025, charges were filed against the driver for using deadly force against federal law enforcement officers under U.S. statutes 18 U.S.C. §§ 111(a), (b), and § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).
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