In the early hours of Sunday morning, US Secret Service agents fatally shot a man armed with a shotgun after he breached the security perimeter of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time (6:30 GMT), authorities confirmed, while Trump was away in Washington, D.C. Officials said the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from a small town in North Carolina, approached the north gate of the estate carrying both a shotgun and a fuel can.
“The only words that we said to him was ‘drop the items,'” said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. “At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.”
According to Bradshaw, the man then drew his weapon, prompting a response from two Secret Service agents and a deputy, who shot him. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene, and no law enforcement officers were injured.
The Secret Service emphasized that no one under their protection was present at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the breach.
Profile of the Suspect
Reports indicate that Austin Tucker Martin was an illustrator specializing in landscapes and golf courses. He reportedly lost an older sister three years ago at the age of 21, although the cause of her death has not been disclosed.
Authorities continue to investigate Martin’s motive for targeting Trump’s Florida estate.
Rising Threats Against Political Figures
Trump, who frequently spends weekends at Mar-a-Lago, has been the target of multiple assassination plots over recent years. Earlier this month, Ryan Routh, 59, was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kill Trump at a Florida golf course in September 2024.
In a separate 2024 incident in Pennsylvania, 20-year-old Matthew Crooks fired shots during a Trump rally, grazing the former president’s ear. Crooks was killed on-site by security forces, and the motive remains unclear.
These attacks highlight a disturbing trend of political violence in the United States, where polarization has fueled increasingly aggressive threats against elected officials. Other high-profile incidents include:
- Right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk being shot dead at a Utah university event last September.
- Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband killed by a masked gunman in June.
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home set on fire in an alleged assassination attempt earlier last year.
Secret Service and Government Challenges
The US Secret Service, responsible for protecting the president, vice president, former presidents, their families, major election candidates, and visiting foreign leaders, continues to face challenges due to a partial government shutdown. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt cited Democrats’ opposition to new funding for the Department of Homeland Security as a factor affecting the agency’s operations.
Authorities are now reviewing security protocols and evaluating whether additional measures are needed to prevent similar incidents at high-profile residences.
