An armed man was shot and killed early Sunday after entering the restricted grounds of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. near the north gate of the Palm Beach property. Authorities said security personnel detected an individual moving inside the secure perimeter and dispatched two Secret Service agents along with a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy to investigate.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that officers encountered a white man in his early 20s carrying a shotgun and a gas can. “They confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun,” Bradshaw said. He explained that the man was ordered to drop both items. While the suspect placed the gas can on the ground, he lifted the shotgun into what officials described as a firing position. “At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat,” Bradshaw said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured.
The Secret Service confirmed that no protectees were present at the property during the confrontation. President Trump was in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. “We want to be clear: the president of the United States was not in the state of Florida,” said Rafael Barros, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office.
Authorities have not publicly released the man’s identity pending notification of his family. However, multiple law enforcement sources identified him as 21-year-old Austin T. Martin of North Carolina, whom family members had reported missing a day earlier. Investigators are examining his recent travel from North Carolina to Florida and whether he acquired the shotgun along the way. It remains unclear whether the firearm was loaded or if any shots were fired by the suspect.
The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Brett Skiles, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office, said agents are collecting evidence and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the breach. Officials have not identified a motive, and residents in the area have been asked to review any exterior surveillance footage from late Saturday into early Sunday for suspicious activity and share relevant information with authorities.
The Secret Service said the agents involved have been placed on routine administrative leave while the investigation continues, which is standard procedure following a shooting. In a statement, the agency noted that the “incident, including the individual’s background, actions, potential motive, and the use of force, is under investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.” FBI Director Kash Patel also stated on X that the bureau “is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X that Secret Service personnel “acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person,” adding that federal law enforcement officers are working around the clock to protect the country.
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