A Minnesota-born U.S. Border Patrol agent killed in the line of duty last month was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday.
David Christopher “Chris” Maland, 44, was killed on Jan. 20 while working in Vermont. He pulled over a car, believing one of the two passengers had an expired visa. One of the passengers opened fire; the other allegedly also drew a gun, according to an FBI affidavit.
Maland was fatally shot in the exchange. One of the passengers in the car, Felix Baukholt, was also killed.
Maland’s family hosted a visitation Saturday in Richfield. Cathy Faucher was there and said Maland’s dad is her cousin. She spoke about the family’s loss.
“He was just a wonderful, wonderful guy — friendly, just hardworking, border control for 10 years, just very sad,” she said.
Maland was born in Blue Earth and grew up in Fairmont. He was an Air Force veteran and worked security at the Pentagon, where he was stationed during the attacks on Sept. 11.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has ordered flags to fly at half-staff Saturday in Maland’s honor.
“I think that a community mourns when a law enforcement officer dies, whether they realize it or not, subconsciously there’s a mourning that happens,” said Brian Hubbard, the president of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association and deputy chief of the Crystal Police Department.
Border patrol agents came from all over the country to honor Maland, including agent Josh Barrett, who came from Texas.
“We didn't actually work with him but had the opportunity to just come up and pay respects to the family also his co-workers and the local law enforcement,” Barrett said. “It's always, you know, definitely a horrible time to meet up, but it's always good to see the support and especially for the family to be here to represent and support them and his co-workers and his family.”
Maland was buried with full military honors at Fort Snelling cemetery.
The FBI has arrested and charged a Washington state woman in connection with Maland’s death. Teresa Youngblut, 21, faces federal firearms charges. She was the surviving passenger in the car involved in the shooting; the FBI affidavit alleges she opened fire first.
Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) is a public radio network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, YourClassical MPR and The Current, MPR operates a 46-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest.
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