An armed man was shot and killed by security operatives after infiltrating the protected grounds of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida early Sunday morning.
The intruder, identified as Austin T Martin from Cameron, North Carolina, was carrying a shotgun and a fuel container when he breached the secure perimeter around 01:30 local time, according to the United States Secret Service.
President Trump was in Washington DC at the time of the incident and was not present at the Palm Beach residence.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that agents opened fire after the suspect unlawfully entered the restricted zone at the north gate of the property.
“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,” the agency stated.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, speaking at a news conference, said officers commanded the man to drop both items before the confrontation turned deadly.
“The only words that we said to him was ‘drop the items’ which means the gas can and the shotgun,” Bradshaw explained.
“At which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.”
Security personnel discharged their weapons to neutralise the threat at that point, the sheriff added.
No law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the encounter, and all operatives involved were wearing body cameras, Bradshaw disclosed.
Authorities have not yet determined whether the suspect’s weapon was loaded, a detail that will form part of ongoing investigations being conducted with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Martin’s family had reported him missing on Saturday, according to reports. Investigators are examining whether he acquired the firearm during his journey from North Carolina to Florida.
The Mar-a-Lago estate maintains exceptionally stringent security protocols, featuring multiple defensive layers.
Local Palm Beach sheriff’s deputies patrol an outer perimeter, whilst Secret Service agents secure an inner ring.
