

David ‘Chris’ Maland, Vermont Border Patrol agent shot dead after engaging Teresa Youngblut, a Washington state woman and Felix Bauckholt, a German national in a shoot out after the pair’s car was stopped on suspicion of an expired immigration visa. Investigators found trove of weapons, tactical gear and electronic gadgets. Pair had been under surveillance since last week.
A Washington state woman and a German national who were observed earlier in the week handling arms at a hotel engaged in a shoot out with a border control agent in northern Vermont after being pulled over. The incident led to the agent killed along with the German national.
Teresa Youngblut, 21, of Washington state, who was wounded in the gun battle was identified as the woman injured according to a Justice Department release on Friday.
Felix Bauckholt, a German national, who was observed earlier in the week with Youngblut at a hotel seemingly handing a cache of weapons and both dressed in tactical gear was killed. Border patrol agent David ‘Chris’ Maland, 44, was identified as the agent killed during an exchange of gunfire after the pair were stopped on suspicion of an expired visa along a highway, 20 miles south of the Canadian border.
Washington State woman and German national bizarre behavior
The court documents do not make clear whether Maland was struck by one of Youngblut’s bullets or a shot fired by a fellow agent.
The incident unfolded after 3 p.m. on Monday, after a border patrol agent pulled over the pair’s blue 2015 Toyota Prius to conduct an immigration inspection. Multiple agents in three vehicles then arrived to the scene, court documents say.
Bauckholt, the registered owner of the vehicle, appeared to have an expired visa in a Department of Homeland Security database, according to court documents. The FBI had previously said the German national involved in the incident was on a current visa, NBC5 reported.
At some point during the traffic stop, Youngblut opened fire toward at least one of the agents while standing outside the Prius’ driver’s side door. Bauckholt then attempted to draw his firearm, according to court documents, prompting at least one border agent to open fire at Bauckholt and Youngblut.

Terrorism mission?
The pair had been under surveillance for several days after an employee at a hotel in Lyndonville reported seeing Youngblut carrying a gun and both of them wearing all-black tactical gear.
Youngblut following her arrest, was charged with one count of using a deadly weapon while assaulting a United States Border Patrol agent, and one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to that assault according to the Justice Department.
Agents recovered an arsenal of weapons and tactical gear at the scene, including 48 rounds of .380-caliber jacketed hollow point ammunition, a ballistic helmet and night vision equipment along with handheld two-way radios. Also recovered at the scene were cell phones wrapped in aluminum foil and multiple laptops according to court documents unsealed Friday.
Court documents stated the pair had been observed hours before shooting, stopping at a local Walmart in Newport where the pair appeared to have purchased two packages of aluminum foil. Upon returning to their car, Baukholt was seen using sheets of foil to wrap unidentifiable objects while seated in the passenger seat, according to court documents.

Journal and itinerary documents found
A journal belonging to Youngblut was included in the items along with documents containing identification, and utility, lease, travel, and lodging information pertaining to multiple states.
Investigators said federal law enforcement agents had been observing the pair since at least Jan. 14 following a tip off from a hotel the pair had been staying at.
Police reached out to the pair, who claimed they were in the area to purchase real estate.
Investigators later observed Youngblut and Baukholt wearing the same tactical dress on Jan. 19 in downtown Newport, with Youngblut again seen carrying a firearm.

Maland, a U.S. Air Force veteran, had worked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection for more than nine years, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
His family told The Associated Press his career spanned nine years in the military and 15 years in the federal government, including working security duty at the Pentagon during the 9/11 terror attacks.
If convicted of the charges, Youngblut faces 10 years to life in prison, according to federal prosecutors. She is being represented by a federal public defender.