...
By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The armed man who was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after entering the secured perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday morning was angry about the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to co-workers and a text message obtained by TMZ.
The man, identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina, sent a message to a co-worker on February 15 where he said “evil is real and unmistakable” while referring to the files, TMZ reported.
He also wrote: ”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," according to the message obtained by the outlet.
Read More on News
According to TMZ, Martin’s colleagues at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club said he became fixated on Epstein after the Justice Department’s latest release of records from its investigative files on the late convicted sex offender. They said Martin, who TMZ reported was a Trump supporter, was disturbed by what he viewed as a government cover-up and regularly spoke about powerful people “getting away with it.”
Newsweek has not independently verified the contents of the text message or the accounts provided by Martin’s co-workers to TMZ.
Although Trump often spends weekends at Mar-a-Lago, he was at the White House when the breach occurred around 1:30 a.m.
Newsweek contacted the White House via an email sent outside regular business hours for comment.
The Context
Investigators have not identified a motive, but Trump has faced multiple threats to his life, including two assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign. Thomas Crooks, 20, shot Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024 where he clipped Trump's ear before a Secret Service counter sniper fatally shot him; and Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested after taking up a position with a rifle near Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, as he was playing in September 2024.
The country has continued to grapple with violence in an increasingly polarizing political landscape, especially following the assassinations of Minnesota Democrat State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Meanwhile, many prominent figures were named in the huge trove of documents released by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations of Epstein.
All have denied having anything to do with his sexual abuse of girls and young women and inclusion in the files does not imply wrongdoing. Epstein died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
...
What To Know
Martin was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy near the north gate of the property, holding what officials described as a shotgun and gas canister.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Martin was ordered to drop the items. He put down the gas canister but “raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said at a brief press conference on Sunday.
The two agents and the deputy “fired their weapons to neutralize the threat.”
Rafael Barros, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, said no law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
The Secret Service agents involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as is agency policy, the Secret Service said in a statement.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina said a relative of Martin’s had reported him missing in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The sheriff’s office said it had no prior history involving Martin prior to that report.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Martin is believed to have purchased the shotgun while driving south, and a box for the weapon was discovered in the man’s vehicle.
What People Are Saying
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X: "In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States 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. Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their department.”
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X: “FBI is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago—where an armed individual was shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter. We will continue working closely with @SecretService as well our state and federal partners and will provide updates as we are able.”
Austin Tucker Martin’s cousin Braeden Fields, told The Associated Press: “I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing.”
He said his cousin comes from a family of Trump supporters, but Martin “never really talked about anything.”
He said: “We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody.”
What Happens Next
The investigation is ongoing.
The FBI asked residents who live near Mar-a-Lago to check any security cameras they may have for footage that could help investigators.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines