Secret Service Shoot Armed Intruder at Mar A Lago — 21-Year-Old Killed Near North Gate
The latest development: a man was shot and killed after entering the secure perimeter of mar a lago, with law enforcement saying agents and a deputy opened fire when the suspect raised a shotgun. The incident, occurring in the early hours and drawing national attention, highlights questions about access, motive and security around a presidential residence.
What happened at Mar A Lago
Authorities say the intruder was spotted near the north gate of the property and was confronted near that gate, which opens to a public road on the oceanfront. He entered as a guest was exiting the club grounds and was found by agents near the north gate. Two Secret Service agents and an officer from the Palm Beach County sheriff's office confronted the man. He was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can at the time.
When ordered to drop the items, the man put down the fuel can and then raised the shotgun. The deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and the man was killed at the scene. Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said the deputy and two agents fired and "neutralised the threat. " The man is deceased at the scene.
The incident happened about 01: 30 ET (06: 30 GMT), or around 1: 30 a. m. local time (6: 30 a. m. UK time).
Who was the suspect
Multiple sources have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Austin T. Martin. Officials are investigating whether Martin purchased the weapon while driving from his home state of North Carolina, where his family reported him missing on Saturday. Bradshaw described the intruder as a white male in his twenties.
Security response and official reactions
Rick Bradshaw, the Palm Beach County sheriff, said officers ordered the man to drop a gas can and a shotgun and that the man had made his way into the inner perimeter at Mar A Lago. When asked if the suspect was known to law enforcement, Bradshaw said "not right now. "
Attorney General Pam Bondi has been speaking with the president and coordinating with federal partners all morning about the shooting, and she said she was grateful the president and law enforcement officers are safe. The White House press secretary said the Secret Service had acted "quickly and decisively to neutralise a crazy person" who had intruded into the president's home, and posted on social media that federal law enforcement work constantly to keep the country safe, adding criticism of a recent decision by some senators to block a funding package for the Department of Homeland Security.
FBI director Kash Patel posted a short statement on social media following the incident.
Timing, location and context
Mar-a-Lago functions as a private club and as the Florida residence of the president. While the president often spends weekends there, he was at the White House with his wife Melania Trump when the intruder entered the Florida estate. Observers note the property's tight security, even when the president is away, which may explain why the intruder was stopped before moving further inside.
Earlier this month, senators blocked a funding package for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Secret Service, over opposition to an immigration crackdown; that dispute has been connected in public debate to security resourcing. The funding fight followed widespread protests that left two people dead in Minneapolis.
What remains unclear
There are still many unanswered questions about the suspect and his possible motives. Officials are investigating whether the firearm was purchased while the suspect was driving from North Carolina, and the broader motive for the attempt to enter the property is unclear in the provided context. Further investigative details have not been released and the inquiry remains active.
