An individual armed with a firearm was shot dead after breaching a restricted security zone at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate of US President Donald Trump, according to the US Secret Service.
Authorities said the man was carrying a shotgun and a container of fuel when he was confronted and fatally shot by Secret Service personnel along with a sheriff’s deputy, reports BBC.
The encounter occurred at about 01:30 ET local time on Sunday (06:30 GMT). President Trump was not in Florida at the time and was in Washington, DC.
The suspect was identified as Austin T Martin, a resident of Cameron, North Carolina, based on information from the BBC’s US partner, CBS.
Earlier that morning, Martin’s relatives had reported him missing to the Moore County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, which later confirmed to the BBC that the missing person details were forwarded to federal authorities.
The sheriff’s office said it had no previous interactions with Martin and was not involved in the investigation taking place in Florida. Officials are examining whether Martin may have purchased the weapon during his drive from North Carolina to Florida, CBS reported.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said agents opened fire after observing the man “unlawfully entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago early this morning,” writing in a post on X.
In a separate statement, the agency said the suspect “was observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can”.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the shooting occurred after the man failed to comply with commands from officers.
“The only words that we said to him was ‘drop the items’ which means the gas can and the shotgun,” Bradshaw told reporters. “At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” he said.
Agents then discharged their weapons to “neutralise the threat,” Bradshaw explained. He added that body cameras were in use, no officers were harmed, and investigators had not yet determined whether the shotgun was loaded. The inquiry will include assistance from the FBI.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran traveled to Florida later on Sunday to conduct post-incident reviews. In a message posted on X, the agency said he has “reinvigorated operational communication and agency response to critical incidents”.
Mar-a-Lago is protected by extensive security measures, including an outer perimeter secured by Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies and an inner zone guarded by the Secret Service. All visitors are screened, and vehicles and belongings are inspected using dogs and metal detection equipment.
President Trump has previously been the focus of multiple assassination plots or attempts.
