Authorities have identified the man involved in the early morning security breach at Mar-a-Lago as 21 year old Austin Tucker Martin of Cameron, North Carolina. The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. Sunday at President Trump’s Palm Beach property and ended with Martin being shot and k***ed by law enforcement after he allegedly raised a shotgun toward officers.
According to investigators, Martin had been reported missing by his family just days before the confrontation. Officials believe he traveled south from North Carolina prior to the incident. A box for a shotgun was later found inside his vehicle, suggesting the weapon was acquired during his trip.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Martin drove into the secure perimeter near the north gate of Mar-a-Lago as another vehicle was exiting the property. He was reportedly carrying what appeared to be a shotgun along with a gas canister or container of gasoline.
Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy responded immediately to the unauthorized entry. Bradshaw stated that officers ordered Martin to drop the items. He placed the fuel can on the ground but then raised the shotgun into what authorities described as a shooting position. At that point, two Secret Service agents and the deputy opened fire, k***ing him at the scene.
No law enforcement personnel were injured during the encounter.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not at Mar-a-Lago at the time. They were in Washington, D.C., and no other individuals under Secret Service protection were present at the property.
Former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino noted that security at Mar-a-Lago had been heightened in recent months due to credible threats. The property has faced prior attempted intrusions over the years, though officials have said those did not indicate clear intent to cause harm. The broader security environment surrounding President Trump has been tense since the 2024 campaign period, which included an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania where he was wounded, as well as another threat near his Florida golf course that led to a life sentence for the suspect involved.
The U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating the latest incident. Authorities are compiling a psychological profile of Martin and reviewing potential motives. As of now, officials say there is no immediate indication he was previously known to law enforcement.
The FBI has asked residents in the surrounding area to check security camera footage for any relevant information about Martin’s movements prior to the breach.
For now, the motive remains unclear. What is clear is that security forces responded within seconds to what they perceived as an armed threat, preventing the situation from escalating further.
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