Armed man shot dead after enteing perimeter of Trump’s residence

International

AN ARMED armed man was shot and killed after entering the secure perimeter of US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida early Sunday morning, authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET while Trump was in Washington, D.C., a report by BBC said.

The US Secret Service said agents encountered the suspect near the north gate of the property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.

According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, officers repeatedly ordered the man to drop the items. While he reportedly put down the fuel can, he raised the shotgun into a firing position, prompting agents to open fire to “neutralize the threat.” No law enforcement officers were injured, and officials said body cameras were in use during the encounter.

The FBI is assisting in the investigation, including determining whether the firearm was loaded.

The suspect was identified as Austin T. Martin of Cameron, North Carolina. Authorities in Moore County said his family had reported him missing earlier that morning, and the information was later shared with federal officials.

Investigators are also examining whether Martin purchased the gun along the route he traveled from North Carolina to Florida. Local officials in North Carolina said they had no prior history involving him and are not part of the Florida probe.

Mar-a-Lago maintains security measures that rank among the most stringent in the United States which combine local sheriff's deputies protection with Secret Service security. The incident comes amid heightened concerns over political violence in the United States. Trump has survived previous assassination attempts, including a 2024 rally shooting in Pennsylvania and another thwarted plot at his golf club in West Palm Beach.(Jeff Marco Zamora, BiPSU Comm Intern)