Suspected Gunman Identified After Fatal Breach at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Estate
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. The armed man who was shot dead by US Secret Service agents after allegedly breaching the secure perimeter of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida has been identified in media reports as Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old illustrator from Cameron, North Carolina.
Although the US president frequently spends weekends at the oceanfront resort, he was at the White House in Washington during this incident, as was first lady Melania Trump. At a press conference on Sunday morning, Ric Bradshaw, the sheriff of Palm Beach county, stated that the suspect was carrying a gas canister and a shotgun.
Details of the Confrontation and Investigation
Bradshaw later confirmed Austin's identity after initially withholding it until officials could notify his family, according to the Washington Post. Austin's family in North Carolina had reported him missing in the early hours of Sunday morning, as noted by the Moore County Sheriff's Office.
As my colleague Richard Luscombe highlights, Bradshaw informed reporters that two Secret Service agents and one of his deputies responded to the north gate of the property at approximately 1.30am ET (06:30 GMT) after a security detail alerted them that a person was within an inner perimeter.
There, they confronted a white male carrying a shotgun and a gasoline can, Bradshaw explained. "He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can and raised the shotgun to a shooting position," the sheriff said. "At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. He is deceased at the scene."
A motive has not been determined by investigators, who are being led by the FBI. This security breach follows two assassination attempts against Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, raising concerns about ongoing threats.
A US Secret Service security tower at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on 22 February 2026 was photographed, underscoring the heightened security measures in place. The incident highlights the persistent challenges faced by protective services in safeguarding high-profile figures.
