An armed man was shot dead by security forces after breaking into the Mar-a-Lago estate, the Florida residence of US President Donald Trump , late Saturday night. The president was not present at the time of the incident, authorities said.

A break-in in the middle of the night

According to the United States Secret Service , the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. in Palm Beach. The suspect, identified as Austin Tucker Martin, a man in his twenties, reportedly traveled approximately 1,100 kilometers before reaching Florida.

Armed with a shotgun and carrying a can of gasoline, he reportedly managed to breach the security perimeter of the estate before being intercepted by federal agents and a deputy sheriff from Palm Beach County.

Warnings and shots

Law enforcement officers ordered the suspect to drop his weapons. According to initial reports, the man put down the jerrycan of gasoline but raised his rifle into firing position. The officers then opened fire, neutralizing him at the scene.

No members of the security forces were injured during the operation.

The president was absent

Authorities have confirmed that Donald Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the intrusion. He was in Washington, D.C., and therefore was not directly exposed to the danger.

Investigation underway

A joint investigation has been launched to determine the suspect's motives and the exact circumstances of the incident. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Secret Service, and local authorities are currently analyzing CCTV footage and the young man's background.



This intrusion raises questions about the security of private presidential residences and comes at a particularly sensitive political time in the United States.

Authorities have not yet released any further information on the suspect's motives.