Armed Man Shot and Killed at Mar-a-Lago

An armed man was shot and killed by law enforcement officers after entering the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, early Monday morning. Trump was at the White House at the time of the incident.

Details of the Incident

According to the U.S. Secret Service, the man, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina, breached the security perimeter around 1:30 a.m. On February 22, 2026. WRAL and The Fresh York Times reported on the shooting.

Authorities stated Martin was armed with a shotgun and possessed a gas can. His family had recently reported him missing, and he is believed to have purchased the shotgun while traveling south. A box for the weapon was found in his vehicle.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that officers asked Martin to drop the gas can and rifle. He complied with the request to drop the gas can, but then raised the shotgun into a firing position, leading to the shooting by two Secret Service agents and a police officer.

Investigation and Motive

The motive for the incident remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet identified a specific reason for Martin’s actions.

Trump has faced previous threats, including an attempted assassination during the 2024 campaign and another incident in Florida in September 2024 where a man attempted to shoot him while golfing.

Political Response

White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt criticized Democrats for a partial government shutdown, blaming it for potentially impacting the Secret Service’s resources.