Armed Man Killed At Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service Says

WASHINGTON — An armed man was shot and killed Sunday after entering the perimeter of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

Although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House during this incident. First lady Melania Trump was also with the president at the White House on Saturday night.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said there was no immediate indication that the suspect was known to law enforcement. He was identified as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of North Carolina.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the agency was "dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident" and would "continue working closely with @SecretService as well our state and federal partners."

According to the Secret Service, he was “observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.” The incident took place at 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

He was shot by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy, the agency said.

"He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position — at that point in time the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat," Bradshaw said in a media briefing Sunday morning streamed by LiveNOW from FOX.

The suspect, who was in his early 20s and from North Carolina, was reported missing a few days ago by his family. Investigators believe he left North Carolina and headed south, picking up a shotgun along the way, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. The box for the gun was recovered in his vehicle, Guglielmi said.

He drove through the north gate of Mar-a-Lago as another vehicle was exiting and was confronted by Secret Service agents, Guglielmi said.

On Sunday afternoon, vehicles blocked the entrance to a property listed in public records as an address for Martin at the end of a private road in Cameron, North Carolina.

Braeden Fields, Martin’s cousin, reacted with disbelief. He said Martin worked at a local golf course, would send money from each paycheck to charity and "wouldn’t even hurt an ant."

“We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody,” Fields said, but his cousin was “real quiet, never really talked about anything.”

Investigators are working to compile a psychological profile and a motive is still under investigation.

"In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

No Secret Service or sheriff's office personnel were injured, according to Guglielmi. In accordance with agency policy, the involved Secret Service agents will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation of the incident, he said.

Those who live near the area of the shooting are asked by the FBI to check exterior cameras for anything suspicious or out of place Saturday night or Sunday morning and report their findings to 1-800-225-5324.

Trump has faced threats to his life before. On Sept. 15, 2024, a man with a rifle was captured after waiting near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach while the president played a round. That man, Ryan Routh, was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month.

That incident came months after July 13, 2024, when Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.