Family of Armed Gunman Who Entered Mar-a-Lago Said He 'Wouldn't Hurt an Ant'

The United States Secret Service fatally shot an armed man after entering Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Authorities revealed the identity of the armed man, which they confirmed through his driver's licence, as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from Moore County, North Carolina.

According to reports, the confrontation between Martin and the authorities took place inside Mar-a-Lago complex's north gate as he was carrying a shotgun and a fuel canister. He was shot after allegedly pointing his shotgun at the officers.

More on the Incident

In a press conference held by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, US Secret Service Miami field office Special Agent Rafael Barros clarified that US President Donald Trump was not in Florida at the time of the shooting. He said, 'We want to be clear: the president of the United States was not in the state of Florida.'

President Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago on 16 February for a scheduled interview with The New York Post. On Saturday night, President Trump was at the White House to host state governors.​

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in a statement that Martin had gone into Mar-a-Lago's inner perimeter, where he was approached by a deputy sheriff and two Secret Service Agents.

Bradshaw said, as Martin was seen carrying a gas can and a shotgun, 'He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,' per ABC News.

Bradshaw continued, 'At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. Fortunately, nobody was injured inside because of the quick action that was taken by the deputy and the Secret Service.'

According to a report by The New York Times, the Secret Service, the sheriff's office and FBI investigators were said to be investigating the incident.

From Missing Person to Person of Interest

Hours before the fatal shooting of Austin Tucker Martin, his family had reported him missing, as reported by the media. Martin's cousin, Braeden Fields, said Martin was a reserved individual and said his family were 'big Trump supporters.'​

Fields, 19, told Associated Press, 'He's a good kid. I wouldn't believe he would do something like this. It's mind-blowing. He wouldn't even hurt an ant. He doesn't even know how to use a gun.'

Braeden also shared that Martin worked at a local golf course and donated to charity. Martin was later found to be the founder of Fresh Sky Illustrations LLC, an artwork company that focuses on golf course art. Martin registered his business in June 2025, per ABC News.​

Reports confirm that Austin Tucker Martin was a registered voter, although he did not list a party. His motive remains unclear, although the incident took place after several attempts on Trump's life, reports say.

History of Mar-a-Lago Security Breaches

Mar-a-Lago has faced multiple security breaches and trespassing since President Trump's first term, per The New York Times. Trump's protection budget in 2025 reached $63 million (£47 million), as security incidents involving the president were not isolated to Mar-a-Lago.

Trump sustained a gunshot wound during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, resulting in a fatality and multiple injuries among the audience, and in the same year, Secret Service agents apprehended a man after he was spotted aiming a gun through the fence of Trump's Florida International Golf Course.​

A senior fellow at the University of Sydney's United States Study Centre said that these incidents are 'always a shock, but never a surprise.'