Manhunt underway for girl linked to killing of Vermont Border Patrol agent: report

A manhunt is underway for a 32-year-old girl suspected of shopping for the handguns used within the killing of a Vermont Border Patrol agent final week, in keeping with a report. 

Legislation enforcement businesses in a number of states are trying to find Michelle J. Zajko, who is taken into account “armed and harmful,” Albany’s Occasions Union reported, citing police data. 

U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland was gunned down close to the Canada-Vermont border Jan. 20, and, 4 days later, Teresa Youngblut, 21, was taken into custody.

“The US Legal professional’s Workplace District of Vermont has charged Youngblut with assault on a federal regulation enforcement officer,” the FBI’s workplace in Albany mentioned on the time. “Our hearts stay with our companions at U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector as they mourn this large loss.” 

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David Maland, a Minnesota native and U.S. Air Power veteran, labored as a Border Patrol agent on the U.S. Customs and Border Safety’s Newport Station.  (U.S. Border Patrol)

Maland was shot and killed throughout a site visitors cease of Youngblut between Newport and Orleans, Vermont. Her passenger, Felix Bauckholt, was additionally armed however was fatally shot by federal brokers after Youngblut opened fireplace. 

Zajko allegedly purchased .40-caliber and .380-caliber handguns in February 2024 in Mount Tabor, Vermont, that had been utilized in Maland’s taking pictures, the Occasions Union reported, citing court docket paperwork. 

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Zajko can be thought-about a “individual of curiosity” in a double homicide in Pennsylvania and one other homicide in California, prosecutors revealed, with out naming her. 

A Border Patrol Agent strikes a robotic gadget subsequent to a Border Patrol automobile on southbound Route 91 close to Newport, Vt., the place a U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot useless Jan. 20, 2025. (David McGlynn for Fox Information Digital)

Maland, a Minnesota native and U.S. Air Power veteran, labored as a Border Patrol agent on the U.S. Customs and Border Safety’s Newport Station. He spent 9 years within the navy and 15 working for the federal authorities. 

He was additionally a Okay-9 handler and beforehand served as a Border Patrol agent in Texas close to the southern border, Maland’s household advised The Related Press. 

“On January 20, 2025, at roughly 3:00 pm, an on-duty, uniformed United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agent initiated a cease of a blue 2015 Toyota Prius Hatchback with [a] North Carolina license plate … to conduct an immigration inspection because it was driving southbound on Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont,” an FBI felony grievance obtained by Fox Information states.

“The registered proprietor of the automobile, Felix Baukholt, a citizen of Germany, appeared to have an expired visa in a Division of Homeland Safety database. Youngblut was driving the Prius, and Baukholt was the lone passenger within the Prius.  

Teresa Youngblut, charged by the FBI within the taking pictures demise of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David Maland, within the workplace on the Newport Metropolis Inn Jan. 14, 2025, in Newport, Vt., in a nonetheless body {photograph} from video launched by the inn, which confirmed her id. (Related Press)

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“Between roughly 3:00 pm and three:15 pm, brokers reported gunshots on the scene,” the affidavit added. “Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Cameron Thompson was notified of the incident and responded to the scene of the cease, arriving at roughly 3:35 pm. 

“He spoke with two of the Border Patrol Brokers concerned within the incident. They described that each Baukholt and Youngblut possessed firearms and that Youngblut drew and fired a handgun towards at the very least one of many uniformed Border Patrol Brokers with out warning when exterior the driving force’s facet of the Prius.” 

Fox Information Digital has reached out to the FBI’s Albany workplace. 

Fox Information’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.