President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not present at the estate during the incident. Authorities said the suspect was carrying a shotgun and a fuel canister and raised the weapon when confronted, prompting officers to open fire.
By PC Bureau
February 22, 2026: A man in his early 20s was shot dead by agents of the United States Secret Service and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly breached a restricted security perimeter at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, early Sunday morning.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time near the north gate of Mar-a-Lago. According to authorities, the president was not at the property at the time. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were in Washington, D.C., after attending the White House Governors Dinner the previous evening. No other individuals under Secret Service protection were present at the estate.
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During a press briefing, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said security personnel observed the suspect approaching and then crossing into the inner restricted zone carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel canister. Officers confronted him and repeatedly ordered him to drop the items. While the man reportedly released the fuel container, authorities said he then raised the shotgun into a firing position.
Confirmed:
The shooter was on a roof, approx 200 yards from the stage. He was instantly eliminated (in the head) by a Secret Service Sniper.
An “AR-style” weapon was found at the scene. pic.twitter.com/YacVsSB1Jw
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) July 14, 2024
Perceiving an immediate threat, two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy discharged their weapons. The suspect was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Officials confirmed that no law enforcement personnel were injured.
The suspect’s identity has not been formally released pending notification of next of kin, though several media reports, citing law enforcement sources, identified him as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the firearm was loaded or whether any shots were fired by the suspect.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Secret Service and local law enforcement, has launched a joint investigation. Officials said the probe will examine the suspect’s background, digital footprint, travel history, and possible motives. Forensic teams are processing the scene for ballistic evidence, fingerprints, and any accelerants linked to the fuel container.
Residents in the vicinity have been urged to review home surveillance footage from the early morning hours and report any suspicious activity. Investigators are also examining how the suspect was able to access the outer perimeter and whether any prior reconnaissance was conducted.
The shooting comes amid heightened security vigilance around Trump’s properties following a previous assassination attempt during the 2024 campaign season at his West Palm Beach golf course, located a few miles from Mar-a-Lago.
Originally built in the 1920s as an oceanfront mansion, Mar-a-Lago was purchased by Trump in 1985 and later converted into a private club. The 126-room estate functions both as his residence and a high-profile venue for political events and fundraisers, earning it the moniker “Winter White House.”
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and further details will be released as more information becomes available.
