Austin Tucker Martin
Mar-a-Lago inner perimeter, Palm Beach, FL ·
Breached Mar-a-Lago perimeter while Trump was in Washington
Latest update ABC News
Motive probed in fatal Mar-a-Lago shooting as Trump speaks out Target
Donald J. Trump
Perpetrator
Full name Austin Tucker Martin
Age at time 21
Date of birth Not publicly reported
Gender Male
Race / ethnicity Not publicly reported
Nationality American
Residence Moore County, NC
Education Union Pines High School (2023 graduate)
Occupation Groundskeeper at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club; owner of registered LLC 'Fresh Sky Illustrations' producing nature and golf-course sketches
Political affiliation Came from a family of Trump supporters per cousin; personally described as apolitical
Mental health (reported) No public diagnosis; family had reported him missing shortly before the incident; investigators were assembling a psychological profile
Prior criminal record Not publicly reported
Prior weapons training Cousin publicly said Martin was 'afraid of guns'; investigators believe the shotgun was purchased en route to Florida
Online footprint Maintained a small website for his illustration business; limited social-media activity reported
Family background Sister killed in a car accident a few years prior; older brother serves in the U.S. military; family described him as nonpolitical
Attempt & outcome
Weapons & equipment Shotgun (purchased en route); Fuel can (gas canister)
Rounds fired - perpetrator 0
Rounds fired - law enforcement 3
Distance to target -
Trump present No
Trump injured No
Bystander casualties 0 killed · 0 injured
Law-enforcement casualties 0 killed · 0 injured
Current status Killed on scene
Sentence -
Preparation Drove from North Carolina to Florida; family had reported him missing; investigators say he purchased the shotgun during the drive south
Motive
Motive not publicly determined. Breached perimeter at ~01:30 a.m. by walking through a gate as it opened for departing staff; carried shotgun and gas canister; refused orders to drop the firearm and raised it to a shooting position.
Key facts
- Entered via a service gate that opened for departing employees
- Killed by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County deputy
- Family had filed a missing-persons report shortly before the incident
- Trump was at the White House Governors Dinner in Washington, not at Mar-a-Lago
- Cousin: 'never interested in politics or guns'