PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a chilling late-night escalation, the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement shot and killed a heavily armed intruder who breached the secure inner perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort early Sunday morning.
The Midnight Confrontation
At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, a man bypassed the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago estate, slipping through as another vehicle was exiting. Authorities quickly observed the suspect advancing roughly 20 to 30 yards inside the restricted compound, carrying what Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw described as a “shotgun and a fuel can.”
The intruder was immediately confronted by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy.
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment,” Sheriff Bradshaw stated during a Sunday morning press conference. “He put down the gas can [and] raised the shotgun to a shooting position. At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement personnel were injured in the standoff.
Who Was the Intruder?
Law enforcement officials have identified the deceased as Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old from Cameron, North Carolina.
According to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, Martin had been reported missing by his family just days prior. Investigators believe he traveled south from North Carolina, allegedly acquiring the shotgun along the way. An empty box for the weapon was later recovered from his vehicle.
The President’s Whereabouts
While President Trump frequently spends his weekends at the Palm Beach club—often referred to as the “Winter White House”—both he and First Lady Melania Trump were safely at the White House in Washington, D.C., at the time of the armed breach.
The Ongoing Investigation
The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation alongside the Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau is dedicating “all necessary resources” to uncover Martin’s motive and compile a psychological profile. The FBI is also urging local residents to review their home security footage for any signs of the suspect prior to the 1:30 a.m. breach.
This fatal encounter marks yet another severe security incident surrounding the 47th President. The breach occurred just a few miles from the West Palm Beach golf club where an armed man attempted to assassinate Trump in September 2024, keeping the nation on high alert regarding political violence.
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