An armed man was shot and killed after entering the secure perimeter of US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to the Secret Service.
The incident occurred around 01:30 ET on Sunday while the president was in Washington, DC. Authorities said the suspect approached the north gate of the property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.
Secret Service agents, supported by a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy, ordered the man to drop the items. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the suspect placed the fuel can on the ground but then raised the shotgun into a firing position. Agents responded by opening fire to neutralize what they described as an immediate threat. No law enforcement officers were injured. Investigators are still determining whether the weapon was loaded.
The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Austin T. Martin of Cameron, North Carolina. Earlier that morning, his family had reported him missing to local authorities in North Carolina. The Moore County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it had no prior record involving Martin and is not part of the Florida investigation.
Officials are examining whether the firearm was purchased along the route from North Carolina to Florida. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the ongoing inquiry. Law enforcement officers involved in the shooting were wearing body cameras, and footage will form part of the review.
Security at Mar-a-Lago is maintained through a layered system, with local law enforcement controlling the outer perimeter and the Secret Service securing the inner compound. The property has been under heightened protection following previous threats against the president.
Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts in recent years. In July 2024, he was wounded during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman opened fire from a nearby position. The attacker was shot dead at the scene. Months later, another suspect was arrested after allegedly attempting to target Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach and was later sentenced to life in prison.
Following the latest incident, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized what he described as rising political hostility in the United States. Political violence has become a growing concern nationwide, with several high-profile attacks reported over the past year.
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