Authorities say an armed man was shot and killed after breaching security at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The incident happened early Sunday while Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in Washington, DC.
The United States Secret Service confirmed the shooting. Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi wrote: “An armed man was shot & killed by US Secret Service agents & @PBCountySheriff after unlawfully entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago early this morning.” According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, officers confronted “a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun.” He was told to drop the items but instead “raised the shotgun to a shooting position.” Officers then “fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.”
Investigators said the man, in his early 20s from North Carolina, had been reported missing days earlier. He allegedly drove through the north gate as another vehicle exited. A shotgun box was later found in his car. The FBI is leading the investigation, alongside the Secret Service and local authorities. FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is “dedicating all necessary resources” to the case.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Secret Service “acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home.” She also criticized Democrats over a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, though Democrats argue funding disputes are tied to immigration policy concerns.
The incident comes amid a broader pattern of political violence in the US. In recent years, elected officials and activists have been targeted in deadly attacks. Trump himself survived an assassination attempt during a July 2024 campaign rally in Pennsylvania, suffering a minor ear injury.
