21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin has been identified as the suspect killed after attempting to enter the president’s Palm Beach resort Sunday, Feb. 22.
According to authorities his family recently reported him missing. He’s believed to have purchased a shotgun while driving to the resort as well as the gas can found in his vehicle. Investigators have not identified a motive as the investigation remains ongoing. They are working to compile a psychological profile for Martin.
Martin entered the north gate of the property on foot as a vehicle with two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy was exiting. Martin was confronted and ordered to drop the gas can and gun.
According to Palm Springs County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Martin set down the gas can before raising the shotgun to a shooting position. Bradshaw said in a press conference shortly after the event that the two agents and deputy “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.” When asked if Martin was previously known to law enforcement, Bradshaw said “not right now.”
In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau would be “dedicating all necessary resources” to the investigation.
Family members of Martin described him as quiet and afraid of guns from a family largely of Trump supporters.
Braeden Fields, Martin’s cousin, reacted with disbelief. “He was a good kid. I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this.”
Fields said his cousin worked at a local golf course and would regularly send money from each paycheck to charity.
Sunday’s incursion at the resort took place only a few miles from Trump’s West Palm Beach club where a man tried to assassinate him during a golf game during the 2024 campaign.
Ryan Routh, the suspect, was found guilty last year and was recently sentenced to life in prison Feb. 4.
Trump also survived an attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. 20-year-old Michael Thomas Crooks fired eight shots, one allegedly grazing Trump’s ear. One rally attendee was killed by Crooks’ shots.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X praising the Secret Service agents for acting quickly to neutralize “a crazy person who intruded President Trump’s home.” She used the post to blame Democratic lawmakers in Congress for the partial government shutdown affecting the Homeland Security Department.
The Secret Service is among the few agencies where the vast majority of employees are continuing their work without pay.
There have been numerous acts of politically motivated violence since the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025. Most recently, on Feb. 17, U.S. Capitol Police arrested 18-year-old Carter Camacho after he ran from his vehicle toward the west side of the Capitol Building armed with a shotgun. The arrest came one week before Trump is due to deliver his State of the Union address.
