Palm Beach, Florida – February 22, 2026 — Law enforcement officials shot and killed a man in his early 20s early Sunday after he forced his way inside a secured perimeter at former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, authorities said.
The incident occurred at roughly 1:30 a.m. local time when U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office encountered the intruder near the resort’s north gate. The man was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a canister of fuel when he crossed into a restricted area of the club and private residence.
According to a statement from the Secret Service, officers gave the suspect instructions to drop the items he was holding. When he raised the shotgun in what appeared to be a threatening posture, agents and the sheriff’s deputy opened fire, killing him at the scene. No law enforcement personnel were injured.
The victim has been identified by several authorities as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, a resident of North Carolina who had been reported missing by his family shortly before the incident.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were not at Mar-a-Lago at the time; both were in Washington, D.C. for the weekend, officials confirmed.
Investigation Underway
Federal and local agencies, including the FBI, Secret Service, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, are now investigating the circumstances that led to the intrusion. Officials have not yet disclosed a motive or whether Martin had any known connections that might explain his actions.
It is standard procedure for Secret Service agents involved in a deadly use of force to be placed on administrative leave during the review. Law enforcement agencies said they will also examine surveillance footage and evidence from the scene.
Broader Security Context
The shooting adds to a series of recent high-profile security incidents involving political figures in the United States. In recent years, Trump has faced multiple assassination plots and attempts, including a man convicted earlier this month for planning an attack at a Florida golf course in 2024, and an incident in Pennsylvania where a rally shooter wounded a bystander and grazed Trump’s ear.
Authorities stressed that the quick response by law enforcement likely prevented further violence. The Secret Service continues to lead efforts to assess broader threats to secure locations associated with current and former national leaders.
