Man Shot and Killed at Mar-a-Lago After ‘Breaching Perimeter’

An armed man packing a shotgun and a fuel can was shot dead in a dramatic late-night showdown after breaching the inner perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, triggering one of the most serious security scares of Trump’s second term.

Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina, a young drifter whose motives remain unknown but whose actions set off a rapid federal response that officials described as “seconds away from disaster.”

Trump was not on the property during the breach, but federal agents say the intruder pushed deeper into the protected zone than anyone in recent memory.

According to the Secret Service, the incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. when Martin slipped past the outer perimeter and moved toward the north gate—an area normally under constant surveillance.

Officers spotted something alarming: the suspect was gripping a long gun in one hand and a fuel container in the other.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw gave a chilling account of the confrontation:

“He put the gas can down. Then he lifted the shotgun into a firing stance. At that moment, the agents did exactly what they’re trained to do—they stopped him before anyone else died.”

Three officers opened fire. Martin dropped instantly. No agents were injured.

The FBI, Secret Service, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office launched an immediate joint probe, digging into Martin’s travel history, online activity, and potential political connections.

FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles said the bureau’s evidence team is treating the breach as a “high-risk threat scenario.”

“Someone entering a protected area with a shotgun and accelerant is not random behavior,” Skiles said. “We need to know why he came here and what he intended to do.”

Agents are reviewing surveillance footage, searching Martin’s electronic devices, and canvassing Palm Beach neighborhoods for additional clues.

Security officials say the threat environment around Trump has intensified since his return to the White House in January 2025. Several former federal agents warn that extremists—on the left and the right—are more unpredictable now than at any point in the last decade.

Dan Bongino, former Secret Service official and current Trump ally, called the incident “a near-miss of catastrophic proportions.”

“A guy with a shotgun and a gas can inside the inner perimeter? That’s as real as it gets,” Bongino said. “This wasn’t a protest. This was a threat.”

Officials say Martin managed to cross the property line before being confronted. How he got that close remains a key question, especially given Mar-a-Lago’s famously tight security protocols.

Bradshaw said:

“He never said a word. He ignored commands. He made a move that forced our officers to act. Any hesitation could have cost lives.”

Investigators are checking whether Martin scouted the estate earlier in the night or used the darkness to bypass visual detection.

Trump was out of state at the time, and no Secret Service protectees were on the grounds. Still, agents reacted as if the president were sleeping 200 feet away.

A former federal security advisor said:

“The combination of a shotgun and a fuel can tells you everything you need to know. This person didn’t come for a joyride.”

Officials have not confirmed whether Martin acted alone, whether he left behind a manifesto, or whether he had ties to extremist groups.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted that the bureau is “deploying all necessary resources” and will continue coordinating with the Secret Service as more information becomes available.

Sources say investigators expect to release preliminary findings later this week, but some details may remain classified due to the sensitivity of Trump’s protective protocols.