Trump was in Washington during the early morning entry on grounds
Trump was in Washington during the early morning entry on grounds
Trump was in Washington during the early morning entry on grounds
A 21-year-old man from North Carolina was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office early Sunday after an unauthorized entry into the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
During the incident around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, President Donald Trump was in Washington, D.C. He often is at his estate on weekends but he hosted a dinner for governors at the White House on Saturday night.
WATCH BELOW: NEWS CONFERENCE AT MAR-A-LAGO
At 6:22 a.m., PBSO announced a news briefing for later in the morning about an undisclosed incident at Mar-a-Lago.
Before the brief news conference began at 9:40 a.m., Secret Service announced on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that an individual was observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.
An armed man was shot & killed by U.S. Secret Service agents & @PBCountySheriff after unlawfully entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago early this morning. A press briefing with additional details will be held at 9:00 a.m with @FBI and Palm Beach County. pic.twitter.com/jAXhdb1xEL
Secret Service agents and the deputy fired their weapons during the encounter. No law enforcement officials were hurt during the incident, and their names have not been disclosed.
The FBI confirmed Sunday afternoon the man killed was 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of Moore County, North Carolina.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
During a news conference outside Mar-a-Lago with PBSO and Secret Service, it was revealed that he was confronted by Secret Service members and a PBSO deputy.
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him. At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. The two agents and the deputy “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”
He’s believed to have purchased his shotgun while driving south, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. A box for the weapon was later discovered in the man’s vehicle.
The FBI is the lead agency in the incident. Following routine protocol after a law enforcement-involved shooting, the two agents are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The FBI requests residents near the incident to send videos to them.
No motive has been revealed.
Trump has not posted on Truth Social about the incident.
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X: “I have been speaking with President Trump and coordinating with our federal partners throughout the morning regarding the intrusion and shooting at Mar-A-Lago. Grateful that @potus and our law enforcement agents are safe.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X late Sunday morning: “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 is working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department,
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Democrat whose district includes Mar-a-Lago, said in a statement posted on Facebook: “Political violence is never the answer. Thank you to the Secret Service and Palm Beach County law enforcement for their swift response today and for their continued work in keeping the President safe.”
There were two assassination attempts of Trump during the 2024 campaign: Butler, Pa., and at his golf course near West Palm Beach. The golf course is a few miles from Mar-a-Lago.
At the course, a Secret Service agent spotted a man, later identified as Ryan Routh, aiming a rifle through the shrubbery before Trump came into view.
Routh was found guilty last year and sentenced this month to life in prison.
Five days ago, a Georgia man armed with a shotgun sprinted toward the west side of the U.S. Capitol. He was arrested.
Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.