The two individuals suspected in the shooting death of a U.S. Border Patrol officer near the Canadian border in Vermont last week are believed to be tied to a transgender militant group. Teresa “Milo” Youngblut and Felix “Ophelia” Baukholt were stopped by the Border Patrol officer along Interstate 91 in Coventry, Vermont, with the officer and Baukholt—a German national—subsequently dying from wounds received in a shootout. The revelation is raising concerns about a possible trans terror cell operating domestically in the U.S.
Surveillance on the pair began when staff at a motel in Lyndonville, Vermont., reported their suspicious behavior, noting tactical clothing and weapons. Law enforcement asserts that Baukholt was armed during the confrontation and was fatally shot after attempting to use his weapon.
A search of their vehicle revealed an arsenal, including weapons, ammunition, and electronic devices wrapped in foil. The discovery of this cache has amplified concerns about their alleged connections to a Vallejo, California-based trans commune led by “Ziz,” also known as Jack Lasota. Authorities uncovered links suggesting that Baukholt might have been in contact with members of this group. The commune has allegedly engaged in violent acts in the past.
Felix Baukholt, a German national, was living in the U.S. on an H-1B visa. Baukholt, described by acquaintances as a youth math prodigy, worked as a quantitative trader in New York after graduating from the University of Waterloo in Canada. Meanwhile, Youngblut—identifying with neo-pronouns—has been charged with using a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm during the assault that killed agent David Maland, an Air Force veteran. Being treated at a medical facility in New Hampshire, Youngblut awaits her initial court appearance scheduled for January 27.
