📰 BREAKING NEWS — U.S. Secret Service kills armed man who breached Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago security perimeter — Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an armed individual after he entered the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida; the president was in Washington, D.C. at the time.

In the early hours of Sunday, February 22, 2026, United States Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a 21‑year‑old man who had breached the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. The incident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. local time near the property’s north gate and has prompted an ongoing investigation by federal and local authorities.

According to officials, the man — later identified by authorities as Austin Tucker Martin, a resident of North Carolina — entered the gated compound in a vehicle as another car was exiting. Surveillance and responding agents observed him carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel canister as he crossed the threshold into the secure zone that protects the resort, which is both a private club and the president’s winter residence.

The Secret Service spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said the armed man had been reported missing by his family several days prior to the shooting. Investigators believe he may have purchased the shotgun during his journey from North Carolina to Florida, although the motive for the breach has not yet been established. A box for the firearm was found in his vehicle after the shooting.

When confronted by two Secret Service agents along with the Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy, law enforcement ordered the man to drop both the shotgun and the fuel canister. According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the man complied by setting down the fuel can but then raised the shotgun into what was described as a “shooting position.” This action prompted the agents and the deputy to open fire, fatally wounding him at the scene.

Officials confirmed that no law enforcement officers were injured during the encounter. The resort was not hosting any Secret Service “protectees” at the time of the incident — including President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump — both of whom were in Washington, D.C., at the White House.

In the immediate aftermath, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) urged nearby residents to check security camera footage from the early morning hours to assist in the investigation. Agents from the FBI, Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office have been working together to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and analyze physical materials from the scene.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement on social media, calling the individual a “crazy person” armed with a gun and a gas canister who intruded on the president’s property, and praising the Secret Service for their decisive response. She also used the opportunity to comment on broader political debates about government funding for security and law enforcement, though those remarks have not been directly tied to the investigation’s findings.

While law enforcement has not publicly confirmed Martin’s motive, authorities are exploring all angles, including psychological factors and any potential political or ideological influences. The resort area and surrounding Palm Beach community have historically faced heightened attention due to Trump’s high profile and previous security concerns.

This incident comes in the context of increased political violence in the United States, including prior assassination attempts against Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, as well as attacks on other political figures and activists. In September 2024, for example, Ryan Wesley Routh, who was spotted aiming a rifle at Trump on a golf course, was sentenced to life in prison for an attempted assassination. Trump was also wounded at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania during the same election cycle. These events have led to intensified scrutiny on security protocols and political rhetoric, and they form part of the backdrop for Sunday’s Mar‑a‑Lago shooting.

Locally, the news has rippled through the Palm Beach community, which includes high‑profile residents and club members at Mar‑a‑Lago, as well as families in nearby neighborhoods. Residents have been asked to remain vigilant and assist the FBI where possible by sharing any relevant video footage from doorbell cameras, security systems, or traffic cameras that might shed light on the sequence of events leading up to the breach.

As of now, the identity of the Secret Service agents and the sheriff’s deputy involved remains undisclosed, as is standard in such incidents. Those officers have typically been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation — a procedural step to ensure transparency and accountability.

With investigations ongoing, officials have emphasized that it is too early to draw firm conclusions about why the attempted breach occurred. The FBI has indicated that all possibilities, including mental health issues, personal distress, and political motives, are being considered as they compile a comprehensive profile of the deceased man’s intentions and state of mind.

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