Anarmed intruder identified as Austin Tucker Martinwas shot and killed by US Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy in the early hours of 22 February 2026, after he crossed the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The 21-year-old from Cameron, North Carolina, was carrying a shotgun and a gas can when he reached the north gate of the property.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not at the resort at the time. The couple were in Washington, DC, during the early morning hours of the incident, and no Secret Service protectees were present on the grounds. Investigators have not yet established a clear motive, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has assumed control of the inquiry.
Martin drove into the secure perimeter at approximately 01:30 local time, approaching the estate's north gate with a fuel can and a shotgun. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said a box for the shotgun was found in Martin's vehicle, suggesting the weapon was acquired during his journey south from North Carolina.
Agents and the sheriff's deputy confronted Martin and issued repeated commands for him to drop the objects. When he raised the shotgun into a firing position, officers opened fire, fatally wounding him. No law enforcement personnel were injured. The agents involved have been placed on routine administrative leave, standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
The FBI is leading the investigation, with local authorities assisting in analysing body-worn camera footage and other evidence. Officials have asked residents near the estate to check their own surveillance systems for footage of Martin's movements before the breach.
FBI is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago - where an armed individual was shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter. We will continue working closely with@SecretServiceas well our…
Martin's family had reported him missing before the incident. Relatives in North Carolina publicly expressed concern on social media after he left home on the afternoon of 21 February and had not been heard from for more than 24 hours. Those accounts, referenced by local Florida media, have not been independently verified by law enforcement, which has not released detailed statements about Martin's background or mental health history.
Investigators are examining his travel, communications, and any connections that might clarify his state of mind. No evidence of organised extremist links has been disclosed. The absence of a confirmed motive has prompted speculation from commentators about whether the breach was ideologically driven or the result of a mental health crisis, a question the FBI has not yet answered.
NEW:It appears a man named Austin Tucker Martin was also reported missing by his family in North Carolina yesterday according to posts I found on Facebook. His aunt said on Facebook his family contacted the FBI to report him missing….Is this the same Austin Tucker Martin who…https://t.co/AbCf9JVGXKpic.twitter.com/fJ6TunGW9C
Why did his family report him missing to the FBI yesterday if they last spoke to him yesterday?pic.twitter.com/cSeTjqToKj
Source: International Business Times UK
