A 21-year-old man breached Mar-a-Lago’s secure perimeter in the pre-dawn hours with a shotgun and a fuel can, was confronted by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County deputy, and was shot dead after pointing the weapon at officers; investigators are probing his motives while family, co-workers and officials weigh in on a disturbing, unresolved incident.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on February 22, Austin Tucker Martin drove up to the north gate of Mar-a-Lago carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. Two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy met him at the perimeter, and the encounter ended with officers firing when Martin pointed the shotgun at them. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not at Mar-a-Lago that weekend; both were at the White House when the breach occurred. No Secret Service agents or sheriff’s deputies were injured during the incident, and law enforcement secured the scene while investigators moved in. Officials have been careful with details while collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the core facts in a concise statement:
“On February 22, around 1.30am, a male in his early 20s was shot by US Secret Service agents and deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) following an unauthorized entry in the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago.”
Guglielmi also said a box for the weapon was discovered in Martin’s vehicle, which family members identified as a 2013 silver Volkswagen Tiguan. Investigators have not pinned down a motive and have asked nearby residents to check home security footage for anything that could help the probe. The FBI and local agencies continue to coordinate evidence collection.
When asked if Martin was previously known to police, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw offered only two words: “not right now.” That sparse answer underscores how quickly the story moved from a small-town profile to a federal investigation. Authorities are working through digital records, messages and travel logs to build a clearer timeline.
Messages recovered from Martin suggest a recent fixation on Jeffrey Epstein material and conspiracy concerns. Days before the breach, he texted a co-worker about the release of files and urged others to spread the word about what he saw as wrongdoing. Co-workers say his tone shifted toward urgency as the weekend approached.
“I don’t know if you read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable.”
“The best people like you and I can do is use what little influence we have. Tell other people about what you hear about the Epstein files and what the government is doing about it. Raise awareness.”
People who worked with Martin described him as preoccupied with the Epstein saga and increasingly frustrated about his job and the wider economy. They said he had tried to start a union at work without success and appeared to be spiraling into conspiratorial thinking. None of those traits, however, explains why he drove to a protected presidential residence with a weapon in hand.
Family members reacted with shock and disbelief to the violent outcome. Martin’s cousin, Braeden Fields, emphasized the family’s political leanings and their confusion over the actions that led to the shooting. Other relatives described him as quiet, charitable and artistic, painting a picture that clashed with the footage and evidence investigators are now reviewing.
“We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody.”
“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun.”
Posts from Martin’s social accounts showed an interest in art and gratitude: on Instagram he described himself as specializing in pen illustrations and thanked God for his gifts. According to family timelines, he left his parents’ $1.1 million home in Cameron, North Carolina, early Saturday afternoon and was last heard from later that evening. He appears to have picked up the shotgun during the drive south.
This incident is part of a string of recent attacks and attempts tied to locations connected with President Trump. During his 2024 campaign he survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another man was found with a rifle near one of his clubs. A separate arrest involved a Georgia man sprinting toward the U.S. Capitol while armed with a shotgun just days before the Mar-a-Lago breach.
- During his 2024 campaign, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally, where a gunman fired eight shots.
- A man tried to assassinate him while he played golf at his West Palm Beach club, just miles from Mar-a-Lago. Ryan Routh was spotted hiding in the shrubbery with a rifle by a Secret Service agent. Routh was found guilty last year and sentenced this month to life in prison.
- Five days before the Mar-a-Lago breach, a Georgia man armed with a shotgun was arrested as he sprinted towards the west side of the U.S. Capitol.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on X with blunt language that praised the agents and criticized political opponents for hampering federal security efforts. Her statements reflect the administration’s view that law enforcement acted properly and that political interference can have dangerous consequences. The episode has renewed talk about protecting critical figures and facilities.
“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 on the 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.”
Agents on the ground confronted an armed intruder in darkness and responded with lethal force when the weapon was raised. That outcome prevented further harm to those charged with protecting the president and highlights the split-second decisions security officers must make. Investigators continue to pursue leads as evidence and messages are analyzed by federal and local teams.
The motive remains officially undetermined and investigators say they are still piecing together why Martin targeted Mar-a-Lago. Authorities are asking for any footage or tips from the public as they reconstruct the movements and mindset that led to this breach. The case is ongoing and will feed into broader discussions about security and political violence going forward.
