An armed 21-year-old man was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy early Sunday morning after breaching the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near the north gate of the property. Neither the president nor first lady Melania Trump were at the resort at the time — both were at the White House, where Trump had attended the Governors Dinner on Saturday evening.
What Happened
According to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, the man drove through the north gate of Mar-a-Lago as another vehicle was exiting. He was spotted carrying what authorities described as a shotgun and a fuel can.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw provided additional details at a press conference Sunday morning. Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy who were part of the security detail responded after detecting someone had entered the inner perimeter.
When they confronted the man, they ordered him to drop both items.
The man put down the gas can — then raised the shotgun to a firing position.
At that point, all three officers opened fire. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement personnel were injured.
As of Sunday afternoon, investigators had not yet confirmed whether the shotgun was loaded or whether the man fired any shots at the officers.
Who Was He?
The man was identified as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, from the Cameron area of Moore County, North Carolina. His family had reported him missing just one day earlier, on February 21. His mother posted a plea on social media Sunday morning asking for help finding him.
Investigators believe Martin left North Carolina and drove south toward Florida, acquiring the shotgun somewhere along the way.
The box for the weapon was found inside his vehicle after the incident. Authorities said Martin was not previously known to law enforcement, and Sheriff Bradshaw confirmed there was no immediate indication he had a prior record.
Martin’s cousin, Braeden Fields, 19, told the Associated Press he was stunned by the news.
He described Martin as quiet, afraid of guns, and from a family of avid Trump supporters. Fields said Martin worked at a local golf course and regularly donated a portion of his paychecks to charity.
The FBI was at Martin’s home in Carthage, North Carolina, on Sunday afternoon. Investigators are working to compile a psychological profile of the suspect and determine a motive, which remains unknown at this time.
A Pattern of Political Violence
The breach at Mar-a-Lago is the latest in a disturbing pattern of political violence that has shaken the country in recent years.
Trump himself has been the target of two prior assassination attempts. In July 2024, a gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear and killing one attendee.
Two months later, a man with a rifle was found hiding near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club while the president was playing a round. That suspect, Ryan Routh of Greensboro, North Carolina, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison earlier this month.
Just five days before Sunday’s incident, a man armed with a shotgun was arrested after sprinting toward the U.S. Capitol.
Beyond threats to Trump, the past year has also seen the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the killing of the Democratic leader of the Minnesota state House and her husband, the shooting of another Minnesota lawmaker and his wife, and an arson attack at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Political Reactions
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the Secret Service in a post on X, saying agents “acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person.”
She went on to criticize Democrats while referencing the fact that the Secret Service operates under the Department of Homeland Security, which is currently in a funding dispute.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on Fox News Sunday morning, used the incident to criticize political rhetoric from the left — despite the fact that no motive had been established and Martin’s own family members described the household as pro-Trump.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would dedicate “all necessary resources” to the investigation, and Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was coordinating with federal partners.
What We Don’t Know Yet
There are still far more questions than answers. Investigators have not determined a motive. They don’t know why Martin, who was reportedly afraid of guns and came from a Trump-supporting family, drove hundreds of miles to breach the security perimeter of the president’s residence armed with a shotgun and fuel.
They don’t know whether he had assistance or acted alone. And they don’t yet know whether the shotgun was loaded.
The FBI has asked residents near Mar-a-Lago to check their security cameras for any footage that could help the investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
