Armed Intruder Fatally Shot at Mar-a-Lago Resort Perimeter
Early Sunday morning, a 21-year-old North Carolina man was shot and killed by law enforcement after breaching the secure perimeter of former U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when the suspect allegedly drove into the restricted area as another vehicle was exiting.
Law Enforcement Response and Details of the Incident
According to U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, the man was spotted by the north gate of the property while carrying a gas can and a shotgun. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that when ordered to drop the items, the suspect put down the gas can but raised the shotgun to a shooting position.
A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and two Secret Service agents then fired their weapons, fatally wounding the individual. No law enforcement officers were injured during the confrontation, and no one under Secret Service protection was present at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the incident.
Identification and Background of the Suspect
The FBI identified the deceased as Austin Tucker Martin of Cameron, North Carolina. Martin had recently been reported missing by his family, and investigators believe he purchased the shotgun during his drive south to Florida.
Family members described Martin as quiet and generally averse to firearms. A cousin, Braeden Fields, expressed disbelief at the incident, noting that Martin came from a family of avid Trump supporters and rarely discussed politics.
"We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody," Fields told The Associated Press. "But he was real quiet, never really talked about anything."Fields added that his cousin worked at a golf course and donated some of his earnings to charity.
Trump's Whereabouts and Ongoing Investigation
Donald Trump was reportedly at the White House when the security breach occurred. The incident is currently under investigation by multiple agencies, including:
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- The U.S. Secret Service
- The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media that the agency is "dedicating all necessary resources" to the investigation.
Historical Context: Previous Attempts on Trump's Life
This incident follows two previous assassination attempts against Donald Trump during the 2024 election campaign:
- September 2024: Ryan Routh, 59, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Secret Service agents discovered Routh hiding in bushes with a semi-automatic rifle near where Trump was golfing.
- July 2024: Matthew Crooks, 20, fired several shots during a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, with one bullet grazing Trump's right ear. A spectator was killed and two others were critically injured in that attack.
The Mar-a-Lago security breach represents another serious incident involving the protection of the former president and highlights ongoing security challenges at high-profile political locations.
