Palm Beach, Florida — U.S. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 21-year-old North Carolina man early Sunday after he breached the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, authorities confirmed.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. when the intruder, identified as Austin Tucker Martin of Moore County, North Carolina, drove through the north gate as another vehicle was exiting. He was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.
Secret Service agents and a deputy confronted him inside the perimeter and ordered him to drop the items. Martin set down the fuel can but raised the shotgun to a shooting position, prompting the officers to open fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement personnel were injured, and no protectees—including President Trump—were present at the resort. Trump was in Washington, D.C., at the time.
The FBI is leading the investigation into Martin’s background, actions, possible motive, and the use of force. Authorities noted that his family had reported him missing shortly before the breach, and he is believed to have traveled south from North Carolina, acquiring the shotgun en route. A box for the weapon was recovered from his vehicle.
Friends and family described Martin as a quiet, apolitical recent high school graduate who ran a small artwork business specializing in handmade drawings of golf courses. His cousin, Braeden Fields, told reporters he was inexperienced with firearms and had never shown interest in guns or politics. “He doesn’t even know how to use a gun. He’s never used a gun,” Fields said.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw detailed the encounter at a news conference: “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment… At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position. The deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.”
FBI Director Kash Patel pledged full resources to the probe, while Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she had spoken with President Trump and was coordinating with federal partners. The Secret Service emphasized that agents acted swiftly to address the threat.
This latest security breach comes amid heightened concerns over political violence surrounding Trump. It follows two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign: one at a Pennsylvania rally where a bullet grazed his ear and killed a bystander, and another in September 2024 at his West Palm Beach golf course, where Ryan Routh was later sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kill the president.
As investigators continue to piece together Martin’s motives and how he gained access, the incident underscores the persistent challenges in protecting high-profile figures in an era of rising threats. The FBI has urged nearby residents to share any relevant security footage to aid the ongoing inquiry. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
