Alexandar Sullivan:
An armed man was shot and killed early Sunday after entering the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, prompting a federal investigation into the security breach.
The confrontation occurred around 01:30 ET (06:30 GMT), according to the Secret Service. The suspect, identified as Austin T. Martin of Cameron, North Carolina, was reportedly carrying a shotgun and a fuel can when he approached the north gate of the property. Trump was in Washington, DC at the time of the incident.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said agents observed Martin “unlawfully entering the secure perimeter.” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the items. “The only words that we said to him was ‘drop the items,’” Bradshaw said. While Martin put down the fuel can, authorities said he raised the shotgun into a firing position, at which point agents opened fire to “neutralize the threat.”
Law enforcement officers were wearing body cameras, and no officers were injured. Officials said it remains unclear whether the shotgun was loaded. The FBI is assisting in determining the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the weapon was purchased during Martin’s reported drive from North Carolina. His family had reported him missing the day before, according to CBS.
Security at Mar-a-Lago includes layered protection by local sheriff’s deputies and the Secret Service. The fatal shooting underscores ongoing concerns about threats to Trump, who has previously survived assassination attempts in 2024, heightening vigilance around his properties and public appearances.
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