Palm Beach, Florida – February 23, 2026
Early Sunday morning, on February 22, 2026, around 1:30 a.m., U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office fatally shot a 21-year-old man who unlawfully entered the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Incident Details
The individual, later identified as Austin Tucker Martin of Cameron (near Carthage), North Carolina, drove through the north gate as another vehicle was exiting. Authorities stated that Martin was armed with what appeared to be a shotgun and was carrying a fuel canister (gas can). A box for the shotgun was found in his vehicle, indicating it may have been recently purchased.
Law enforcement confronted Martin inside the perimeter and ordered him to drop the items. Reports indicate he set down the gas can but raised the shotgun to a firing position, prompting the agents and deputy to open fire. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured, and no one under Secret Service protection was present at the time.
President’s Whereabouts and Immediate Response
President Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago during the incident—he was in Washington, D.C., having hosted a dinner for governors at the White House the previous evening. The Secret Service emphasized the swift response that neutralized the threat. Agents involved have been placed on routine administrative leave pending review.
Suspect Background
Martin, 21, was a recent high school graduate who had started an artwork company called Fresh Sky Illustrations, specializing in handmade drawings of golf courses. His family had reported him missing shortly before the event—around 1:38 a.m. on February 22, according to the Moore County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. No confirmed motive has been released, and authorities have not linked it definitively to political reasons, though the incident follows prior security threats against Trump.
CNN did not air the press conference about the shooting at Mar A Lago.
— Francesca 🇺🇸 (@FranMFarber) February 22, 2026
Let that sink in.
Investigation and Context
The FBI is leading the investigation, with support from the Secret Service and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Officials held a news conference to detail the events, displaying photos of the shotgun and gas can involved.
This marks another security incident at properties associated with President Trump, following two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign—one in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another at his golf course near West Palm Beach. In the golf course case, the perpetrator was convicted and sentenced to life earlier this year.
Law enforcement praised the decisive actions of the Secret Service and local deputies. Statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the agents’ professionalism amid concerns over rising political violence in the U.S.
The probe continues, with no further details on potential motives—such as digital communications or other background factors—officially confirmed at this time. The event has received extensive media coverage as authorities gather more information.