US: An armed man was shot and killed after entering the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, according to the US Secret Service.
Although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House during this incident. First Lady Melania Trump was also with the president at the White House on Saturday night, as reported by the Associated Press.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw stated that there was no immediate indication that the suspect was known to law enforcement. The man who was killed has been identified by investigators as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, according to a source familiar with the matter. He was from North Carolina. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to publicly discuss details of the investigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a post on X that the bureau would be "dedicating all necessary resources" to the investigation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented in a post on X, "In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralise 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 country safe and protect all Americans. It's shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department."
The FBI has urged residents in the area near Mar-a-Lago to check any security cameras they may have for footage that could assist investigators.
The suspect, who was in his early 20s and from North Carolina, had been reported missing by his family a few days ago.
According to the Secret Service, he was "observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can."He was shot by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The armed man was seen at the resort's north gate around 1:30 am (IST). According to Reuters, the suspect's intentions at the resort remain unclear. The White House has not immediately responded to a request for comment.
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The United States is currently experiencing a rise in political violence. In 2024, Trump survived two assassination attempts, including one at his golf course in West Palm Beach. In June 2025, Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman from Minnesota was shot and killed alongside her husband. Several months later, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was also assassinated.