A 21-year-old man was shot dead early Sunday after entering the secured perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate and private club owned by US President Donald Trump.
Authorities identified the man as Austin Tucker Martin. The United States Secret Service and local law enforcement confirmed that he was armed when he breached the property. The incident occurred at approximately 1.30 am local time on February 22, 2026.
Martin, a resident of North Carolina, had reportedly been listed as missing by his family days before the shooting. Investigators believe he travelled to Florida by car and acquired a shotgun during the journey. According to local media reports, a box for the weapon was later found inside his vehicle.
Officials said Martin entered through the north gate of the estate’s secure perimeter carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confronted him after he crossed into the restricted area.
Law enforcement officers ordered him to drop the items. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Martin put down the fuel can but then raised the shotgun in what authorities described as a threatening manner. Agents and the deputy opened fire, and Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured.
The motive behind Martin’s actions remains unclear. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in the investigation and is working with the Secret Service and other state and federal partners to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities have also requested that nearby residents provide any relevant security camera footage.
At the time of the shooting, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were in Washington, DC, attending an official event at the White House and were not present at the Palm Beach property.
