'Nonbinary' Border Shooter Story Adds To National Trend

By Damien Fisher, NH Journal

Investigators want to know why a Manchester resident drove to the Canadian border and allegedly shot at a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Pittsburg.

U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan wants to know if there are any connections between the nonbinary suspect and the so-called “Zizian” group, which has been linked to the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent near the Vermont-Canada border last year.

And members of law enforcement and the general public are asking why there is a surge of violence by members of America’s transgender community. Independent journalist Andy Ngo, who first reported on the Zizian group, noted the New Hampshire incident is the third U.S. shooting this month involving a transgender suspect.

Blu Daly, 26, also known as Cullan Daly, is being held on a charge of attempted murder in connection with the weekend shooting. The Border Patrol agent was not harmed. Daly suffered a gunshot wound during the exchange. Daly, a registered Democrat who voted in the 2024 presidential primary, has no apparent history of political activism and no significant criminal record.

“We’re still investigating everything about this individual, including potential motivation and what could have prompted them to be in the border area at that time of night, and what would have caused them to fire at a Border Patrol agent executing routine duties,” Creegan told WMUR.

Daly’s public social media presence is limited and does not include overt ideological posts. Authorities have not said why Daly drove roughly three hours from Manchester to the northern border late at night.

According to court records, an agent encountered Daly in Stewartstown near the border shortly before midnight on Feb. 21. Daly was alone in the vehicle. During the encounter, the agent asked whether Daly had used any other names in the past. Daly then drove away, according to the affidavit.

Daly previously held a Massachusetts driver’s license under the name Cullen Daly, listing sex as male. In New Hampshire, Daly’s license lists the name “Blu Daly” with a female designation.

Authorities said Daly drove toward the Border Patrol station in Pittsburg, about 10 miles away, with the agent following. At the border crossing, the agent activated emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. As Daly attempted to turn the vehicle around, Daly allegedly fired a handgun at the agent, according to the affidavit. The agent returned fire, striking Daly, who then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a snowbank.

Daly is under guard at a New Hampshire hospital while receiving treatment for injuries.

Daly attended Salem State University in Massachusetts before moving to New Hampshire, first living with a female relative in Londonderry and later relocating to Manchester.

The shooting bears similarities to a fatal encounter last year near the Canadian border in Vermont. In that case, Border Patrol Agent David Maland was killed in a shootout with two individuals described by authorities as members of the Zizian group, which espouses a radical ideology blending transgender identity, veganism, and artificial intelligence themes.

Felix “Ziz” Backhault died in the Vermont exchange of gunfire. Teresa Youngblut is facing federal charges in connection with Maland’s death. Jack “Ziz” Lasota, described as a leader of the group, is facing federal gun charges in Maryland. Lasota has also been identified as a person of interest in the killings of Richard and Rita Zajko, the parents of Michelle Zajko, who is charged with supplying firearms to Backhault and Youngblut.

Given the similarities between the cases, Creegan told WMUR her office is exploring any possible connection between Daly and the Zizian group.

If convicted, Daly faces up to 40 years in prison.

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.