TL/DR –
Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old from North Carolina, was shot dead by U.S. Secret Service agents and local authorities after breaching a secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s home, and raising a gun at law enforcement officials. The incident took place on February 22, 2026, while President Trump was in Washington. The FBI has taken the lead in the active investigation into the incident.
Armed Man Fatally Shot at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida Home
A man breaching security at Donald Trump‘s Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, was shot dead by US Secret Service and local authorities. The suspect, reportedly carrying a shotgun and fuel can, was identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from North Carolina, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers, responding to a disturbance near the property entrance, were confronted by the armed individual who raised his weapon despite being ordered to drop it, leading to the fatal shooting. The incident is under active investigation by the FBI. Secret Service communication chief Anthony Guglielmi confirmed no person under their protection was present at the time.
Authorities are appealing to local residents for any security footage that might assist the ongoing investigation. In response to the incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commended the quick action of the Secret Service and criticized Democrats for the current partial government shutdown, affecting funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service.
This security breach follows a series of incidents at the Mar-a-Lago property. In 2024, Trump was targeted in an assassination attempt while golfing nearby. And in January 2020, a woman drove an SUV through barriers at the property, prompting gunfire from law enforcement.
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