By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot and killed on Monday while on duty, acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman said in a statement.

“Today, January 20, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the Swanton Sector of the US Border Patrol was fatally shot in the line of duty,” Huffman said.

“This incident is being rapidly investigated and DHS will release additional information as it becomes available.”

The Border Patrol agent was killed in northern Vermont just south of the Canadian border, officials said.

Vermont State Police said the shooting happened on Interstate 91 in Coventry, which is about 20 miles (32 km) from the Canadian border.