Mar-a-Lago shooting: man killed trying to break in to Trump resort - The Times

A man in his early twenties has been shot dead trying to break into President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The man was armed with a shotgun and carrying a fuel can, according to the Secret Service.

He was killed by Secret Service agents and a deputy from Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office at 1.30am on Sunday.

According to AP, the man was identified by investigators as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, from North Carolina, according to a person familiar with the matter. He had been reported missing a few days ago by his family.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss details of the investigation.

Anthony Guglielmi, the chief of communication for the Secret Service, said investigators believed the suspect had picked up a shotgun on his way south. The box for the gun was recovered in his vehicle, Guglielmi added.

Trump, who survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania in 2024, and his wife, Melania, were in Washington on Saturday night, hosting the annual National Governors Association dinner at the White House.

The US president has previously been targeted while staying at Mar-a-Lago: he survived another assassination attempt while golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Guglielmi said: “On February 22, around 1.30am, a male in his early 20s was shot by US Secret Service agents and deputy from the Palm Beach Country Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) following an unauthorised entry in the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago.

“The individual, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced deceased.

“He was observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.”

Rick Bradshaw, the Palm Beach county sheriff, told a brief press conference: “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.”

He said that the two agents and the deputy “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat”.

Guglielmi added: “No US Secret Service or PBSO personnel were injured. There were no Secret Service protectees at the location at the time of the incident.”

Investigators are working to compile a psychological profile and a motive is still under investigation.

The FBI asked residents who live near Mar-a-Lago to check any security cameras they may have for video that could help investigators.

Kash Patel, the FBI director, said in a post on X that the bureau would be “dedicating all necessary resources” to the investigation.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote on X: “In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralise a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home.

“Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their department.”

Democrats in the US Senate had blocked a funding package for the Department of Homeland Security over the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.