A 21-year-old man was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service agents after breaching security at Mar-a-Lago early Sunday morning. Authorities identified him as Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when security alerts signaled an intruder on the property. Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy confronted the man at the north gate, where he was carrying a shotgun and a gasoline canister. When ordered to drop the items, he put down the gas can but raised the shotgun, prompting officers to open fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured.
At the time, Donald Trump was at the White House. Investigators said Martin’s family had reported him missing days earlier. Authorities believe he traveled from North Carolina and obtained the shotgun en route.
The FBI is conducting a full investigation into his background, movements, and possible motives. Officials say there is no current evidence he intended to target a specific individual.