The US Secret Service shot and killed an armed intruder who breached the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s Florida residence, early on Sunday. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from North Carolina, was carrying a shotgun and a gasoline can when confronted by agents.
According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the incident occurred at about 1:30am ET at the north gate of the property. The man was ordered to drop the items but instead raised the shotgun to a shooting position, prompting agents and a deputy to open fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House in Washington at the time. The suspect had been reported missing by his family a few days earlier and is believed to have driven from North Carolina, picking up the shotgun along the way.
The FBI is processing the scene and investigating the motive. The Secret Service confirmed the suspect was in his early 20s and from North Carolina. No law enforcement personnel were injured.
