World

US border patrol agent fatally shot in Vermont south of Canadian border

Benjamine Huffman, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said the death occurred ‘in the line of duty’.

Cars are backed up at the US-Canada border in Stanstead, Quebec, after a shooting involving a US Border Patrol agent (Chloe Jones/AP)
Cars are backed up at the US-Canada border in Stanstead, Quebec, after a shooting involving a US Border Patrol agent (Chloe Jones/AP) (Chloe Jones/AP)
By Associated Press Reporters

A US Border Patrol agent was fatally shot on Monday 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 “subject” was killed and a third person was injured and taken into custody.

Mr Huffman said the death occurred “in the line of duty”.

The identity of the agent, who was assigned to the US Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector, was not immediately released. The sector encompasses Vermont and parts of New York and New Hampshire.

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Traffic at the US-Canada border in Stanstead, Quebec after the shooting in Vermont, US (Chloe Jones/AP)
Traffic at the US-Canada border in Stanstead, Quebec after the shooting in Vermont, US (Chloe Jones/AP) (Chloe Jones/AP)

Neither Mr Huffman nor Homeland Security’s US Customs and Border Protection provided additional details.

Vermont State Police said the shooting happened on Monday afternoon on Interstate 91 in Coventry, about 20 miles from the Canadian border. State police officers were assisting federal authorities including the FBI and Homeland Security.

The FBI said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

A portion of the highway was closed in both directions for about two hours afterwards. The northbound lane reopened just after 5pm.

Mr Huffman said the death would be “swiftly investigated”.

“Every single day, our Border Patrol agents put themselves in harm’s way so that Americans and our homeland are safe and secure,” Mr Huffman said in a statement.

Coventry is close to the US Customs and Border Protection’s Newport Station, part of the Swanton Sector. The area includes 295 miles of international boundary with Canada.