PALM BEACH, Florida — U.S. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed an armed man early Sunday after he unlawfully entered the secure perimeter of the Mar‑a‑Lago estate, the former residence and club of Donald Trump, in Palm Beach, Florida, federal authorities said.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on February 22, 2026, when the individual was observed near the north gate of the property carrying what Secret Service agents described as a shotgun and a fuel can.
Law enforcement officers ordered the man to drop the items, and while he complied with placing the fuel can down, he reportedly raised the shotgun in a threatening manner, prompting officers to open fire.
No Secret Service personnel or sheriff’s deputies were injured.
The suspect, who was in his early 20s and from North Carolina, had been reported missing by his family a few days earlier, authorities said.
Investigators believe he drove south toward Florida and acquired the shotgun before the breach.
A box for the weapon was recovered inside his vehicle at the scene.
At the time of the shooting, neither Trump nor First Lady Melania Trump was at Mar‑a‑Lago; both were in Washington, D.C., officials confirmed.
The individual’s identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
A joint investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is underway to determine the man’s background, possible motive and the full circumstances leading up to the encounter.
As part of standard procedure, the Secret Service agents involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
Authorities have urged residents in the surrounding area to review security camera footage for any relevant information that might assist in the inquiry.
This incident marks another in a series of security threats linked to Mar‑a‑Lago and, more broadly, heightened concerns over safety at high‑profile locations.
Law enforcement’s swift response ensured the situation was contained without further injury or loss of life.
