WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Secret Service shot and killed an armed man who drove into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's resort in Palm Beach, early on the morning of February 22.
A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service said that, although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House when the breach occurred around 1:30 a.m.
The man, who had a gas can and a shotgun, was identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina, according to the FBI. His family had recently reported him missing.
Officials said the man is believed to have bought his shotgun while driving south.
Police have not yet found a reason for his actions. However, Trump has received threats before, including two attempts to kill him during the 2024 campaign.
The man entered the property through the north gate while another car was leaving. He was stopped by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.
Officers told him to drop the two items he was carrying. He put down a gas can but then lifted the shotgun into a firing position. The agents and the deputy then shot him to stop the threat, Bradshaw said.
The Moore County Sheriff's Department in North Carolina said a family member reported Martin missing earlier the same day.
Investigators are now trying to understand his mental state. When asked whether he was known to police, Bradshaw said not at this time.
The FBI asked people living near Mar-a-Lago to check their security camera footage for any footage that might help. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the agency would use all necessary resources to investigate.
On Sunday afternoon, vehicles blocked the entrance to a property listed as Martin's address at the end of a private road in Cameron, North Carolina.
Martin's cousin, Braeden Fields, said he was shocked. He described Martin as quiet, scared of guns, and from a family that strongly supports Trump.
"He's a good kid," said Fields, 19. He said they grew up together and could not believe Martin would do something like this. He said Martin worked at a local golf course and donated part of each paycheck to charity.
"He wouldn't even hurt an ant. He doesn't even know how to use a gun," Fields said.
He added that his cousin never talked about politics. "We are big Trump supporters, all of us," Fields said, but Martin was very quiet and kept to himself.
The incident at Mar-a-Lago happened just a few miles from Trump's West Palm Beach golf club, where a man tried to kill him while he was playing golf during the 2024 campaign.
