An armed man was shot and killed early Sunday morning after driving into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
Officials identified the suspect as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina.
He reportedly carried a gas can and a shotgun when he entered near the north gate of the property around 1:30 a.m.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that Martin had been reported missing by his family days earlier and is believed to have acquired the weapon en route to Florida.
Incident Details
- Martin drove into the perimeter as another vehicle was exiting.
- He was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy.
- Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Martin was ordered to drop his equipment but raised the shotgun instead.
- Agents and the deputy opened fire, killing him instantly.
- A box for the weapon was later discovered in his vehicle.
Context
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House at the time of the breach.
Trump has previously survived two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign — one at a golf course in West Palm Beach and another at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The FBI has asked nearby residents to review security footage for evidence.
FBI Director Kash Patel pledged “all necessary resources” for the investigation.
Authorities are working to establish Martin’s psychological profile and motive.
Political Reactions
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the Secret Service’s swift response, calling the intruder “a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister.”
She also criticised Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown affecting Homeland Security, saying federal law enforcement officers are working without pay.
Broader Pattern of Violence
The incident comes amid a wave of political violence in the U.S., including:
- The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- The killing of a Democratic leader in Minnesota’s state House and her husband.
- The shooting of another lawmaker and his wife.
- An arson attack at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
- A recent arrest of a Georgia man armed with a shotgun near the U.S. Capitol.
This latest breach underscores the heightened threat environment surrounding political figures and institutions in the United States.
