The man shot and killed after driving into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago early Sunday has been identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss details of the investigation, reports AP.
The US Secret Service said the man drove through the north gate of President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as another vehicle was exiting. He was armed with a shotgun and carrying a gas can, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said the suspect was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy.
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with them. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said. The two agents and the deputy “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”
The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Trump and first lady Melania Trump were at the White House at the time.
Martin had been reported missing by his family days earlier. Investigators believe he left North Carolina and headed south, picking up the shotgun along the way. The box for the gun was recovered from his vehicle, Guglielmi said.
Authorities said investigators are working to compile a psychological profile and determine a motive. “Not right now,” Bradshaw said when asked whether the individual was previously known to law enforcement.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the bureau would be “dedicating all necessary resources” to the investigation.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X: “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. Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department.”
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