A man was shot and killed by law enforcement personnel at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., early Sunday morning.
Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said the man, in early 20s, was killed after “unlawfully entering the secure perimeter” at the resort around 1:30 a.m. local time Sunday. Two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the incident, where shots were fired by law enforcement officials, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw said at a Sunday presser.
Local and federal officials are investigating whether it was a Secret Service agent or the local sheriff’s office deputy who fatally shot the man, Bradshaw said. The FBI later Sunday identified the man as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of Moore County, N.C., after informing his next of kin.
The president is in Washington, D.C., but he often spends his weekends at the Florida resort.
“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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social media Sunday. “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.”
Secret Service is within the Department of Homeland Security, which is operating without funding amid negotiations on immigration enforcement measures.
Guglielmi, in his Sunday statement, said Martin was seen by the north gate of the property “carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.”
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can and raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said. “At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.”
The Secret Service spokesperson, in the initial statement, added that no law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident and that the agency is withholding the deceased man’s identity as officials look to notify his next of kin.
The fatal shooting is under investigation by the FBI, Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI is leading the probe, per Bradshaw.
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote Sunday on social platform X that the bureau “is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation” of the incident. Patel added the FBI “will continue working closely” with the Secret Service, state and federal partners and “will provide updates as we are able.”
Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn also shared a photo on X at just before 3 p.m. EST Sunday of Secret Service Director Sean Curran boarding a flight to Florida “for after-actions.” Quinn also wrote that “our teams remain fully engaged on mission.”
At Sunday’s presser, the special agent in charge of the FBI field office asked residents living near Mar-a-Lago to check their security cameras and to contact the FBI if they see anything suspicious.
Secret Service agents involved in the incident have been placed on routine administrative leave, Guglielmi added.
Updated at 5:39 p.m. EST
