A 21-year-old man was shot to death after entering Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, carrying a shotgun and a gasoline canister. Now, the man has been identified.
An armed man was shot and killed by the United States Secret Service after breaching security at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida home and private club of Donald Trump, early Sunday morning.
At the time of the incident, Trump was not at the property. He was at the White House in Washington alongside First Lady Melania Trump.
During a press conference later that morning, Ric Bradshaw, sheriff of Palm Beach County, said the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. ET. A security alert warned that someone had entered the property.
Two Secret Service agents and one sheriff’s deputy went to the north gate, where they found a white male carrying a shotgun and a gasoline 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,” the sheriff said.
Gunman shot dead at Mar-a-Lago identified as Austin Tucker Martin, 21
“At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. He is deceased at the scene.”
Bradshaw confirmed that none of the officers were injured. He also said it was unclear whether the shotgun was loaded. A photo of the gun and fuel canister was later shared with reporters.
At first, authorities did not release the man’s identity. Later Sunday, the Associated Press reported that investigators identified the man as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, citing a source who spoke anonymously due to the ongoing investigation.
In another statement, the Secret Service said the suspect was in his early 20s and from North Carolina. His family had reported him missing just days earlier.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said investigators believe the man traveled from North Carolina and picked up the shotgun on the way. The gun’s box was found inside his vehicle.
Investigation is ongoing
Trump’s private living quarters are located in a separate building on the property. Mar-a-Lago is also a members-only club used by wealthy guests and is often the site of political events and visits by world leaders.
The White House later released a statement praising law enforcement for their actions and said federal agencies are “fully engaged” in reviewing what happened.
In a separate statement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it is “conducting a full review of the individual’s background, movements and digital footprint.”
Rick Bradshaw said there is currently no evidence that the suspect intended to target a specific individual. The investigation remains ongoing.
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