Armed man shot dead at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, US Secret Service says

An armed man drove into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before being shot and killed early Sunday morning, according to a spokesman for the US Secret Service. Although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House when the breach occurred around 1.30am. The man had a fuel can and a shotgun, authorities said. Investigators identified him as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorised to discuss it publicly, and authorities said his family had recently reported him missing. He was believed to have bought his shotgun while driving south, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said, and a box for the weapon was later discovered in the man’s vehicle. Investigators have not identified a motive. However, Trump has faced threats to his life before, including two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign. The man entered the north gate of the property as another vehicle was exiting and was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. “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 said at a brief press conference. The two agents and the deputy “fired their weapons to neutralise the threat”. The Moore County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina said a relative of Martin’s reported him missing early Sunday morning. Investigators are working to compile a psychological profile. Asked whether the man was previously known to law enforcement, Bradshaw said “not right now”. The FBI encouraged residents who live near Mar-a-Lago to check any security cameras they may have for footage that could help investigators. In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would be “dedicating all necessary resources” to the investigation. On Sunday afternoon, vehicles blocked the entrance to a property listed in public records as an address for Martin at the end of a private road in Cameron, North Carolina. Braeden Fields, Martin’s cousin, reacted with disbelief. He described Martin as quiet, afraid of guns and from a family of avid Trump supporters. “He’s a good kid,” Fields, 19, said. He said they grew up together. “I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing,” Fields said. He said Martin worked at a local golf course and would send money from each pay cheque to charity. “He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun,” Fields said. He said his cousin did not discuss politics. “We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody,” Fields said, but his cousin was “real quiet, never really talked about anything”. Sunday’s incursion at Mar-a-Lago took place a few kilometres from Trump’s West Palm Beach club where a man tried to assassinate him while he played golf during the 2024 campaign. A Secret Service agent spotted that man, Ryan Routh, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire and caused Routh to drop his weapon. Routh was found guilty last year and sentenced this month to life in prison. Trump also survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. That gunman fired eight shots before being killed by a Secret Service counter sniper. One rally attendee was killed by the gunman. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that “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”. Leavitt used her post to blame Democratic lawmakers in Congress for the partial government shutdown affecting the Homeland Security Department, which began February 14 after Democrats demanded changes to the president’s deportation campaign. The Secret Service is among the agencies where the vast majority of employees are continuing their work but missing a pay cheque. “Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans,” Leavitt said. “It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department.” The White House referred all questions to the Secret Service and FBI. Both Trump and his wife posted statements on social media after the incident, but they were unrelated to the shooting. In the past year, there was the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk; the assassination of the Democratic leader in the Minnesota state House and her husband and the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife; and an arson attack at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Five days ago, a Georgia man armed with a shotgun was arrested as he sprinted towards the west side of the US Capitol. Trump was scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address there on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning Hong Kong time).

Armed man shot dead at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, US Secret Service says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Authorities said the man, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can

Authorities said the man, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can