Crime
Washington State Woman Arrested in Fatal Shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Vermont
The shooting occurred on Monday afternoon during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, approximately nine miles south of the U.S.-Canada border.
ORLEANS COUNTY, VT – Authorities have identified 21-year-old Teresa Youngblut of Washington State as the second suspect in the fatal shooting of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland earlier this week.
Youngblut has been charged with the intentional use of a deadly weapon while forcibly assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and discharging a firearm during an assault, according to court records.
The charges were detailed in an eight-page affidavit filed by the FBI on Wednesday and unsealed in U.S. District Court in Burlington on Thursday morning.
The shooting occurred on Monday afternoon during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry, approximately nine miles south of the U.S.-Canada border.
Agent Maland conducted the stop after receiving a lookout alert for the suspects’ vehicle, a blue 2015 Toyota Prius with North Carolina license plates.
Two additional Border Patrol vehicles arrived on the scene before gunfire erupted.
Youngblut and her companion, 30-year-old German national Felix Baukholt, were both armed at the time of the stop. Youngblut allegedly opened fire without warning, striking Maland.
Baukholt attempted to draw a firearm but was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. Maland sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the neck and was pronounced dead at North Country Hospital in Newport.
According to the FBI affidavit, Youngblut and Baukholt had been under surveillance by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) since January 14. A hotel clerk in Lyndonville had reported concerns after the suspects checked in wearing tactical gear, with Youngblut openly carrying a firearm.
Investigators tracked their movements, including surveillance at a Walmart in Newport on January 20, where Baukholt was observed purchasing aluminum foil and wrapping unknown objects inside the vehicle.
Youngblut and Baukholt were seen walking in downtown Newport on January 19 in similar tactical attire, and both were reported to be armed. Despite multiple attempts by federal agents to engage them in conversation, the suspects refused to cooperate.
Following the shooting, a court-ordered search of the Prius uncovered a significant cache of tactical gear and weaponry, including:
- A ballistic helmet and night-vision monocular
- A tactical belt with a holster and loaded magazine
- Two full-face respirators
- 48 rounds of .380-caliber jacketed hollow point ammunition
- Used and unused shooting range targets
- Two-way radios, electronic storage devices, and identification documents
- Travel and lodging records for multiple states
- A journal maintained by Youngblut
The Vermont State Police Bomb Squad, in coordination with the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), used robotic technology to ensure the vehicle was safe before collecting evidence.
Youngblut, who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, is currently receiving medical treatment at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. She is expected to appear in federal court as early as this afternoon.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher is leading the prosecution, with the Office of the Federal Defender assigned to represent Youngblut.
The FBI confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations had been conducting an inquiry into the suspects and a potential third accomplice in the days leading up to the shooting.
However, it remains unclear whether Border Patrol agents had been fully briefed on the nature of the investigation before they conducted the traffic stop, a tactic known as a “Whisper Stop,” in which officers are not given full details of an ongoing investigation.
Authorities have also revealed that Baukholt had overstayed his temporary work visa, raising questions about how he obtained a firearm as a non-resident.
Agent David Maland, 44, a K-9 handler with his partner Cora, had served with the Border Patrol for approximately a decade and was engaged to be married. His remains were transported from Burlington to Albany, N.Y., for a flight home to Minnesota.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact the FBI or Vermont State Police.
More details will be released as the investigation progresses.
Crime
Security guard Yahaira Melendez charged with murder after shooting inside IHOP restaurant in Center City Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A security guard has been arrested and charged with murder following a fatal shooting at a Center City IHOP over the weekend that left a 43-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday at the IHOP located in the 1300 block of Walnut Street, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim, who police say was unhoused, was transported to Jefferson Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators report that the victim had been causing a disturbance inside the restaurant prior to the shooting. As security personnel escorted him outside, he allegedly turned and spat on one of the guards.
That guard, identified as 38-year-old Yahaira Melendez, allegedly responded by drawing her firearm and shooting the victim once in the head.
Police say preliminary findings indicate the victim was not armed at the time of the incident.
Melendez, a mother of three, was taken into custody and has been charged with murder and related offenses.
In a statement Melendez’s family expressed shock and disbelief over the situation, writing in part:
“We are shocked and devastated by the tragic events that occurred at the IHOP while she was working security. We know she would never harm anyone unless she felt she had no other choice to protect herself or others.”
The shooting has left nearby workers and residents shaken.
“Escalation — where was the escalation?” asked Karr Anderson, who works next door to the restaurant. “Security guards need to know how to withhold, how to show restraint.”
Philadelphia Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether proper security protocols were followed and what led to the use of deadly force.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased pending family notification.