An armed man was shot and killed after breaching the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, the Florida property owned by Donald Trump, according to U.S. law enforcement officials and multiple American media reports.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in Palm Beach, Florida. Authorities said Secret Service agents, working alongside deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, encountered a man near one of the estate’s gated entrances. The individual was reportedly carrying a shotgun and a gasoline container when officers confronted him inside the restricted security zone surrounding the property.
Law enforcement officials stated that officers gave verbal commands ordering the man to drop his weapon. While he reportedly put down the gasoline container, authorities said he raised the shotgun in the direction of officers. Agents then discharged their firearms, fatally wounding him at the scene. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead shortly afterward.
U.S. media outlets identified the individual as a 21-year-old man from North Carolina who had previously been reported missing by family members. Investigators are examining his background, possible motive and how he traveled to South Florida before the confrontation.
Officials confirmed that Trump was not present at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the shooting and that no protectees were on the property during the incident. The Secret Service said the perimeter security systems functioned as designed and that there was no further threat to the public.
The investigation is being led jointly by the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from the property and surrounding areas and have asked anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The shooting comes amid heightened security concerns around high-profile political figures in the United States, following previous threats and attempted attacks in recent years. Officials have emphasized that the inquiry remains ongoing and that further details will be released once the investigation progresses.
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