A 21-year-old man from North Carolina, identified as Austin Tucker Martin, was shot and killed early Sunday morning after breaching the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near the north gate, where Martin carried a shotgun and a gas can.
Details of the Confrontation
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw described how two U.S. Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy confronted Martin after he entered the property. “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him,” Bradshaw stated during a press conference. “At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.”
The agents and deputy then fired their weapons to neutralize the threat. No Secret Service personnel or deputies were injured, and no protectees were present at the time. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House.
Background on Austin Tucker Martin
Martin, a resident of Cameron, North Carolina, left his $1.1 million home around 1 p.m. Saturday and was last heard from just before 8 p.m. that evening. Family members reported him missing and identified his vehicle as a 2013 silver Volkswagen Tiguan. A box for the shotgun was found inside the car.
His aunt posted on Facebook, “This is not like him at all.” Authorities confirmed Martin had no prior known police record.
Official Statements
U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi provided further details: “On February 22, around 1:30 a.m., a male in his early 20s was shot by U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office following an unauthorized entry in the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago.”
“The individual was observed by the north gate carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can,” Guglielmi added. The identity was withheld initially pending family notification.
U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on X: “In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home.” She also noted federal law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation.
Ongoing Investigation
The FBI has requested that nearby residents review home security footage to assist investigators. A motive for the breach remains unclear. The incident follows other security events near Trump properties, including a 2024 assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach golf club and a rally shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
