Early on Feb. 22 a security incident occurred at U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. A gunman breached the resort’s secure area and was shot dead on the scene by U.S. Secret Service agents and Palm Beach County deputies.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the man was in his twenties and from North Carolina. He had a can of gasoline and a shotgun in his car. U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi stated that the man had been reported missing by his family several days earlier, and investigators believe he obtained the shotgun along the way. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m., and authorities found a gun box inside his vehicle.
Investigative sources identified the man as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin. The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss investigation details publicly.
Law enforcement response
According to Reuters, after entering through the resort’s north gate, the man was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County deputy sheriff. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said: “He was ordered to drop the two items he was carrying. He dropped the gasoline can but raised the shotgun in a shooting stance.” Law enforcement then fired, stopping him. No officers were injured in the incident.
The FBI has taken over the investigation and urged nearby residents to review security camera footage to help collect evidence. Investigators are examining the man’s psychological profile, and his motive has not yet been determined. Bradshaw noted there is no evidence that the man had prior contact with law enforcement.
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Frequent political violence
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House at the time and were not at the resort. Trump has previously faced multiple life threats, including two assassination attempts during his 2024 campaign. Mar-a-Lago is located only a few miles from the site where Trump was previously targeted at the West Palm Beach golf course. In that earlier incident, a man named Ryan Routh aimed a rifle at Secret Service agents, was stopped by gunfire, and later sentenced to life in prison. Trump was also targeted at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman fired eight shots before being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper.
Reports note that political violence in the U.S. has increased in recent years. In June 2025, Minnesota Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead; months later, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Five days ago, a man in Georgia was arrested after brandishing a shotgun near the west side of the Capitol. Additionally, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence was recently targeted in an arson attack.
