Austin Tucker Martin, 21, was shot and killed after breaching security at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. In the weeks leading up to the incident, he had reportedly grown increasingly obsessed with the Epstein files.
Early Sunday morning, Martin breached security at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida home and private club of Donald Trump, and was shot and killed by the United States Secret Service. Authorities said Martin was armed with a shotgun and a gas can, and police reported he had assumed a “shooting position” before being shot.
He was confronted by local police and Secret Service agents on the Palm Beach property.
“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can [and] raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Ric Bradshaw, sheriff of Palm Beach County, said.
“At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. He is deceased at the scene.”
None of the officers were injured.
Austin Tucker Martin’s messages about Epstein
According to TMZ, Martin had exchanged unusual messages with a coworker in the days before the incident, mentioning the Epstein files unprompted.
“I don’t know if you read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable,” Martin wrote.
He added, “The best people like you and I can do is use what little influence we have. Tell other people about what you hear about the Epstein files and what the government is doing about it. Raise awareness.”
The coworker did not reply, but shortly before news of Martin’s death broke, he sent a message asking: “Hey! Where are you?”
Martin’s coworkers told TMZ that he believed the government was actively covering up the Epstein files so people could continue “getting away with it.” They also said he frequently expressed frustration over the economy and the challenges facing young people, and that he regularly showed support for Trump.
His cousin, Braeden Fields, told The Associated Press that most of their family were supporters of President Donald Trump. According to Fields, violence was out of character for him.
“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun,” Fields said.
Authorities have not confirmed a motive. Police released a photo of the shotgun Martin allegedly carried and urged residents to check their security cameras for any footage of him. Donald Trump and Melania Trump were at the White House at the time of the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
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