Federal authorities have released additional details in the investigation of a Moore County man shot and killed early Sunday after entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago.
Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of Cameron, was identified by the U.S. Secret Service as the man involved in the incident just after 1:30 a.m. Officials said he was armed with what appeared to be a shotgun and a gas can when he drove into the restricted area of the Palm Beach property.
The confrontation at Mar-a-Lago
According to the Secret Service, Martin was confronted near the north gate by agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy after gaining entry to the estate. Investigators say he was repeatedly ordered to drop the items. He put down the gas can but then raised the shotgun toward the officers, who opened fire. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured.
Investigators later said another vehicle was exiting through the north gate at the time Martin entered the property. Authorities are reviewing how he was able to drive into the secure area.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in Washington at the time and were not present at the Florida property, officials said.
Federal authorities have not publicly discussed a motive. The investigation remains ongoing.
Missing person report filed in Moore County
The deadly encounter in Florida occurred around the same time a missing person report was filed in Moore County.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that at approximately 1:38 a.m., a relative notified deputies at a local business that Martin was missing. He was entered into a national missing person database.
Federal authorities later informed the sheriff’s office they were conducting an active investigation in Florida involving Martin. At their request, the missing person case information was turned over to federal investigators.
The sheriff’s office said it had no prior history involving Martin before Sunday’s report and is not participating in the Florida investigation.
By Sunday morning, federal agents were at a property on Sweinhart Lane in Cameron as part of the expanding investigation. The property includes a residence and a shop garage building. Authorities have not released details about what, if anything, was recovered from the home or the outbuilding.
Family reaction
Brayden Fields, Martin’s cousin, told Moore County News the family is struggling to understand the events leading up to the shooting.
“He’s a great kid,” Fields said. “He’s very quiet.”
Fields said Martin was not known to be politically outspoken.
“He never really talked about politics,” Fields said.
According to North Carolina voter registration records, Martin was registered as unaffiliated and had voted only once, in the 2024 general election.
Fields also said their family has long supported President Donald Trump.
“Our family supports Trump,” Fields said.
“I wouldn’t believe that he would do something like this,” Fields added.
A previous family tragedy
Fields said Martin’s family has endured significant loss in recent years, including the death of his sister, Caitlin Renea Martin, in 2023.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Caitlin was killed in a crash in August 2023 while traveling northbound on U.S. 1. Troopers said she attempted to turn left onto U.S. 1 Business into Vass when a truck driven by Isaac Jacob Kent struck her vehicle.
Highway Patrol officials said Kent was traveling at a high rate of speed and did not have his headlights on at the time of the collision.
