Secret Service shot and killed armed man who breached Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence

 

Secret Service shot and killed armed man who breached Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, U.S. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy shot and killed an armed intruder at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's residence in Florida.

 

The Incident

Time and Entry: The breach occurred around 1:30 a.m.. The intruder reportedly drove through the property’s north gate as another vehicle was exiting.

The Confrontation: Law enforcement encountered the suspect, a man in his early 20s, carrying a shotgun and a fuel can (or gasoline canister).

The Shooting: When ordered to drop his equipment, the man put down the fuel can but raised his shotgun into a "shooting position". Two Secret Service agents and one sheriff's deputy fired their weapons, neutralizing the threat.

 

The Suspect

Identity: Investigators identified the man as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of Moore County, North Carolina.

Background: His family had reported him missing just days earlier. Authorities believe he traveled south from North Carolina and purchased the shotgun during the trip; the gun's box was later found in his vehicle.

 

Status of President Trump

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not at Mar-a-Lago during the incident.

They were in Washington, D.C., where the President had attended the Governor's Ball (annual Governors Dinner) at the White House on Saturday night.

The Secret Service confirmed that no other "protectees" were at the resort during the breach.

The FBI is currently the lead agency investigating the motive and circumstances of the breach. This incident follows a series of high-profile security threats against the President, including a sentencing earlier this month for the man involved in the September 2024 golf course attempt.