Armed man shot and killed after entering Mar-a-Lago secure perimeter
A gunman was shot and killed Sunday morning after entering the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s private Florida residence and resort, and confronting U.S. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy.
The slain man was identified by investigators as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of North Carolina, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. Martin was reported missing by his family a few days ago.
Trump, who is in Washington D.C. to host the annual meeting on Saturday night Governors’ Dinner The White House resident was not at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the incident.
according to Secret ServiceLaw enforcement officers located a man in his early 20s armed with a shotgun and a fuel canister near the north door of Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida, around 1:30 a.m.
When a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and two Secret Service agents went to investigate, they ordered him to drop off the items, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw said at a news conference Sunday morning.
“He put down the gas can, raised his rifle into a firing position,” Bradshaw said. “At that time, the deputy and two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.”
It was determined that the man died at the scene. Rafael Barrows, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, said no law enforcement officers were harmed in the incident.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.
Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office, said the Evidence Response Team investigated the scene and collected evidence. He asked nearby residents to check their exterior cameras and contact the FBI or West Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office if they spot anything that looks suspicious or out of place.
The officers involved were wearing body cameras, Bradshaw said.
Asked if the man was known to law enforcement before the incident, Bradshaw said, “Not at this time.”
The Secret Service said in a statement: expression The teams are investigating the background and cause of the dead man. His name will be kept secret until his family is notified of his death. The agents involved will be placed on routine administrative leave “in accordance with agency policy” during the investigation.
The incident took place amid a wave of political violence against politicians across the country.
Many recent events have targeted Trump. In July 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt during an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A few months later, a man armed with a rifle seen hiding in bushes near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course was arrested by Secret Service agents.
Trump had no public comment on the incident Sunday morning. After 11 a.m. Eastern, the President posted a series of comments on Truth Social about the U.S. men’s hockey team’s victory at the Winter Olympics.
“Congratulations to our great USA Ice Hockey team,” Trump said. “THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW!”
Moments later, Trump posted: “WHAT A GAME” and “LOTS OF WINS!!!”
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also praised the Secret Service for its quick work.
“In the middle of the night, while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service took swift and decisive action to neutralize a crazed individual armed with a gun and a gas canister who broke into President Trump’s home,” Leavitt said. expression About X. “Federal law enforcement works 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans.”
FBI director Kash Patel said briefly: expression He said the agency is devoting “all necessary resources” to the investigation and will continue to work closely with the Secret Service and state and federal partners.
