An armed man was shot and killed early Sunday after driving into a secured area of Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach resort owned by Donald Trump, according to the U.S. Secret Service.
Officials said the man, in his early 20s and from North Carolina, entered the protected perimeter as another vehicle was leaving the property. Secret Service personnel responded and fatally shot him. Authorities reported that he was carrying a shotgun and a gas can. Family members had recently reported him missing, and investigators believe he traveled south before acquiring the firearm.
Law enforcement sources identified the individual as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin. The identification was confirmed by a person familiar with the investigation who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
At the time of the incident, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House.
The breach comes amid a period marked by several high-profile incidents of political violence across the United States over the past year.
Investigation Expands
By Sunday afternoon, vehicles were seen blocking access to a property in Cameron, North Carolina, listed in public records as the suspect’s address. The residence is located along a sandy private road surrounded by pine trees.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X that she had spoken with Trump and was coordinating with federal partners regarding the shooting. She expressed gratitude that the president and law enforcement officers were safe.
Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said the bureau would commit “all necessary resources” to the investigation.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Secret Service agents acted “quickly and decisively” in response to the overnight intrusion.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking in a television interview, criticized political rhetoric from Democrats, though authorities have not publicly detailed the suspect’s motive.
Recent Security Incident at U.S. Capitol
The Mar-a-Lago breach occurred just days after a separate armed incident in Washington. U.S. Capitol Police arrested an 18-year-old man who ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a shotgun.
Police said the suspect, identified as Carter Camacho of Smyrna, Georgia, exited a vehicle near the Capitol and ran several hundred yards toward the building before officers stopped him. Authorities said he was wearing tactical gear and had additional ammunition. His motive remains under investigation.
Federal officials continue to examine the circumstances surrounding both incidents.
