Washington, Feb 24: A 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from North Carolina was shot and killed after breaching the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, resort.
Martin, reported missing by his family several days earlier, entered near the north gate carrying a gas can and a shotgun.
The incident occurred around 1:30 am as another vehicle was exiting the property.
Martin was confronted by two US Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy, who ordered him to drop his weapons.
After he put down the gas can and raised the shotgun in a shooting position, the agents and deputy fired to neutralize the threat.
Authorities found a box for the shotgun in his vehicle. Trump and First Lady Melania were at the White House at the time of the incident.
The FBI has asked nearby residents to share security camera footage and is dedicating all necessary resources to the investigation.
Officials are compiling a psychological profile, but Martin’s motive remains unknown. He was not previously known to law enforcement.
The incident adds to a string of political violence in the US, including prior assassination attempts on Trump during his 2024 campaign and attacks on public figures nationwide.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the quick and decisive action by the Secret Service while criticizing Democratic lawmakers for the partial government shutdown affecting Homeland Security.
Authorities continue to investigate and secure the area to prevent further threats.