An armed man was reportedly shot dead at Mar-a-Lago, the private Florida estate owned by United States President Donald Trump on Sunday, 22 February.
The suspect, later identified asAustin Tucker Martinof Cameron, North Carolina, breached the secure perimeter of the residence and was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can according to the Secret Service.
An armed man was shot & killed by U.S. Secret Service agents &@PBCountySheriffafter unlawfully entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago early this morning. A press briefing with additional details will be held at 9:00 a.m with@FBIand Palm Beach County.pic.twitter.com/jAXhdb1xEL
The incident happened at around 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the South Florida state. Trump and the first lady normally spend their time at the Mar-a-Lago resort during weekends. However, both were at the White House at the time of the incident hosting a dinner for governors. The United States president was briefed about the incident according to a White House official as reported byCNN.
Upon spotting Martin unlawfully entering the secure perimeter, the 21-year-old was ordered to drop the items he was carrying. Martin put down the gas can but raised the shotgun to a shooting position, forcing agents to fire at him to neutralise the threat, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw in aBBCreport.
'He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,' Bradshaw stated at a press briefing.
For people who knew the deceased suspect, the alleged assassination attempt came as a surprise. People close to the 21-year-old claim that Austin was a quiet person and was allegedly an avid Trump supporter.
'He's a good kid,' Braeden Fields, Martin's cousin stated. 'I wouldn't believe he would do something like this. It's mind-blowing,' Fields added per a report by theAssociated Press.
Fields added that Martin worked at a golf course and would send part of his salary to charity. He added that he and Austin never talked much about politics, leaving him befuddled as to why the 21-year-old would end up trying to assassinate the United States president.
With Mar-a-Lago known to be the place where Trump holds presidential activities, security at the estate is expected to be heightened. Political violence in the U.S. rising, targeting Republican and Democratic figures alike.
Source: International Business Times UK
