The United States had a huge security scare on Sunday (February 22) when a man in his 20s breached the secure perimeter of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while carrying a shotgun and a fuel can.
The US Secret Service shot and killed the armed intruder, now identified as Austin Tucker Martin, of Cameron, North Carolina, after he was spotted by the north gate of the property, which is often referred to as Trump’s ‘winter White House’.
The president and first lady were at the White House in Washington, DC, at the time of the incident.
So, how did the incident unfold? Who was the man who breached Trump’s Florida home? We examine what exactly happened and provide you with all the answers.
How did the shooting unfold at Mar-a-Lago?
According to law enforcement officials, a
man in his 20s entered the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago around 1:30 am ET, carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. Officials added that the man made his way through the north gate as an employee was walking out. He made it about 20 or 30 yards before he was confronted by law enforcement.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that when a deputy and two Secret Service agents encountered the man, they ordered him to drop the items. The man dropped the gas can and “raised the shotgun to a shooting position”.
The deputy and agents then fired their weapons at him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff said. He added that the officers involved were wearing body cameras. No law enforcement officials were harmed in the incident, authorities added.
Now, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation and was on the scene collecting evidence. In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would be “dedicating all necessary resources” to the investigation.
The agency also urged residents around Mar-a-Lago to check security cameras, as they could provide footage that could help in the probe.
CBS News has reported that authorities are looking into whether the man bought the gun along the driving route he took from North Carolina to Florida. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi revealed that the box for the gun was recovered in his vehicle.
Who was the armed man at Mar-a-Lago?
The man shot dead at Trump’s Florida residence has been named as Austin Tucker Martin of Cameron, North Carolina. His family in North Carolina had reported him missing in the early hours of Sunday morning, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to the BBC.
Now, investigators are working to prepare a psychological profile of Martin; the motive behind the man’s presence at Mar-a-Lago is still to be determined. When asked if the man was previously known to law enforcement, Bradshaw said, “not right now.”
According to the New York Times, 21-year-old Martin was a recent high school graduate who started an artwork company that specialised in handmade drawings of golf courses last year. He graduated in 2023 from Union Pines High School in Cameron, according to a social media post from his mother. He was a registered voter; however, he had not listed any party affiliation.
Martin’s cousin, Braeden Fields, told The Associated Press that he came from a family of “big Trump supporters.” He added that Martin had worked at a local golf course and would send a portion of his paychecks to charity.
“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun,” Fields told AP. “He’s a good kid. I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing.”
Last June, Martin registered a business named ‘Fresh Sky Illustrations’, an artwork company focused on “bringing to life the hopeful feeling of being on a golf course by illustrating golf course scenes and providing framed copies of handmade works in various golf course gift shops”.
He also regularly posted drawings on a Facebook profile that appeared to be his personal account. The last drawing he posted was on Thursday.
A TMZ report, citing people Martin worked with, reported that he had become extremely frustrated over the
Epstein files, and had become consumed by conspiracy theories involving government secrecy. Co-workers at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in North Carolina, where Martin works, told the outlet that he was frustrated that powerful figures were “getting away with it,” referring to the Epstein files.
Was Trump at Mar-a-Lago during the incident?
No. The US President, Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump weren’t at the Florida residence at the time when Martin breached the secure perimeter. The couple was in Washington, DC, on Saturday night for a dinner with state governors. However, the American leader often spends the weekend at the residence, where he golfs on Sundays.
What have been the reactions to the incident?
While US President Trump has yet to comment on the situation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the quick action of the Secret Service agents involved in the incident. She also took the opportunity to blame Democrats for the partial government shutdown.
In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home. Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our… https://t.co/MYTsHqR4cx
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 22, 2026
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he spoke with Trump after the incident. Bessent thanked the Secret Service for protecting the president and his family. “We don’t know whether this person was a mastermind, unhinged, or what,” said Bessent to Fox News.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi also said she had reached out to Trump about the incident and was coordinating with federal partners on the investigation.
Is this the first such attack against Trump?
The incident on Sunday immediately reminded people of the attempted assassination against Trump while he
played golf during the 2024 presidential campaign. A Secret Service agent spotted a man,
Ryan Routh, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery before Trump came into view. Officials said Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire and caused Routh to drop his weapon. Routh was found guilty last year and sentenced this month to life in prison.
The US president also survived another
assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. That gunman fired eight shots before being killed by a Secret Service counter sniper.
Also, last Wednesday, police in Washington arrested a man from Georgia who was armed with a loaded shotgun and sprinted towards the west side of the US Capitol building.
With inputs from agencies
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