Cousin calls incident “mind-blowing”
A relative of the man shot and killed after entering the secured grounds of Mar-a-Lago says the situation feels unreal.
Authorities identified the suspect as 21 year old Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina. His cousin, Braeden Fields, described him as quiet and kind, someone who avoided conflict and never showed interest in politics.
Fields said they grew up together and that he struggles to understand what happened. According to him, Martin was afraid of guns and would not intentionally hurt anyone. He added that while their family strongly supports Donald Trump, Martin rarely discussed political issues at all.
What happened at the estate
Investigators say Martin entered the north gate of the Palm Beach property early Sunday morning as another vehicle was leaving. The breach happened around 1:30 a.m., according to officials.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said deputies and U.S. Secret Service agents saw the suspect carrying what looked like a shotgun and a fuel can. Officers ordered him to drop the items.
Bradshaw told reporters that Martin put down the gas can but raised the shotgun. At that point, deputies and Secret Service agents opened fire. Authorities said they neutralized the threat on the scene.
The suspect was pronounced dead shortly after. The president was not at the Florida residence at the time. He was in Washington when the incident occurred.
Family reported him missing
In a separate development, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office said Martin’s family reported him missing shortly after 1:30 a.m. that same morning.
A neighbor, Cindy Carlyle, told local media that Martin’s mother appeared distressed when she went to a gas station to report him missing. Carlyle said the mother had received a text message from her son saying he was okay and that he loved her.
Carlyle’s husband described the tragedy as something that feels close to home and deeply upsetting for the community. He suggested that the situation may have been preventable.
Investigation continues
Authorities have not released further details about a possible motive. Investigators are still reviewing the sequence of events leading up to the breach.
For now, the case has left both law enforcement and family members searching for answers. What is clear is that a young man’s life ended in a confrontation that has shaken relatives and neighbors alike.
