Who is Austin Tucker Martin? 21-year-old man shot to death after entering Mar-a-Lago secure area

Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old man, was shot and killed on Sunday after entering the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate and private club owned by US President Donald Trump. The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement confirmed the shooting after the man was found armed.According to authorities, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time on February 22, 2026. Martin was a man from North Carolina who was reported missing by his family days before the event. Investigators believe he traveled south and acquired a shotgun along the way, and the weapons box was later found in his vehicle, Local 10 reported. The man with the shotgun was identified as a North Carolina golf course artist, the New York Post reported. MAGA commentator Laura Loomer found posts on the suspect’s family’s Facebook account that also claimed Martin was missing.She said in a post onShe added: “Sources tell me that the Marines shot and killed a man named Austin Tucker Martin who was trying to break into Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and a gas canister.”Officials said Martin entered through the north gate of Mar-a-Lago’s secure perimeter carrying two items that immediately attracted attention. A Secret Service spokesman said he was seen carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. When he breached the security area, agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confronted him.Law enforcement ordered Martin to throw away the two items to eliminate the perceived threat. According to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Martin dropped the can but then raised his shotgun and made a threatening gesture toward the officers. In response, agents and deputies opened fire and Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured in the confrontation.Martin’s exact motive for approaching the high-security estate remains unknown. The FBI has taken the lead in investigating the incident, gathering evidence and trying to determine what led him to Mar-a-Lago. Authorities are also asking nearby residents to share any surveillance footage that might help the investigation.In a post onThe incident occurred while Trump and first lady Melania Trump were attending an official event at the White House in Washington, D.C., instead of appearing at the Palm Beach estate.