Austin Tucker Martin, 21, has been identified as the armed suspect who tried to breach Mar-a-Lago’s security perimeter on Sunday, The Associated Press reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Martin was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the FBI. palm beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Martin, who is from North Carolina, was carrying a gas can and a shotgun at the time of the incident.
“The individual was found at the north gate of Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and a fuel can,” a statement from the U.S. Secret Service said. “U.S. Secret Service agents and a Department of Public Safety deputy confronted the individual, and law enforcement officers fired their weapons during the confrontation.”
Investigators believe he traveled south in the days before the incident and acquired a shotgun along the way. His family reported him missing a few days ago.
Also read: Who is Austin Tucker Martin? Mar-a-Lago break-in suspect is U.S. citizen
conservative commentator Laura Loomer shared a photo she identified as Martin, as well as a screenshot of a Facebook post from the family reporting Martin missing.
According to Loomer, a woman named Chrissie Fields, believed to be Martin’s aunt, wrote in a post, “My nephew Austin Tucker Martin is missing. He left home yesterday at 1:00 PM and has not been in contact with anyone since 7:51 yesterday. This does not look like him at all. The Gas/Southern Pines area. Local police are involved and they have also contacted the FBI. If you have seen him, please contact him.”
A missing persons flyer shared online stated, “Tucker Austin Martin was last heard from at 7:51 pm on February 21st! He drives a 2013 silver Volkswagen Tigeaun, approximately 6 feet tall, and lives in the Carthage, North Carolina area.”
The same photos and posts were widely circulated on X. HT.com has not independently verified the authenticity of the image or confirmed that the person in the missing persons post is the same person identified in the Mar-a-Lago incident.
