Man Fatally Shot After Breaching Mar-a-Lago Perimeter on Sunday Morning

A man carrying a shotgun and fuel can was shot and killed by law enforcement after breaching Mar-a-Lago's inner perimeter early Sunday morning.
By Newsroom | Crime, National Security |

Early Sunday morning, authorities shot and killed an armed man who entered a secure area of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The individual was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can when he breached the property's inner perimeter. President Trump was not at the residence at the time of the incident.

Background

On Sunday, February 22nd, around 1:30 a.m. local time, a security detail at Mar-a-Lago detected an individual entering the club's inner perimeter near a gate on the north side. A deputy and two Secret Service agents were dispatched to investigate. Upon encountering the man, who was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can, law enforcement fatally shot him. He was declared dead at the scene. No law enforcement personnel were injured. The Secret Service has confirmed that no protectees were present at Mar-a-Lago during the incident.

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Key Details Emerge

Multiple sources and official statements offer differing details regarding the identity of the deceased and the sequence of events.

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  • Identity Discrepancies: Two law enforcement sources identified the man to NBC News as Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old from North Carolina. His mother reportedly posted on Facebook on Sunday morning that he was missing. However, Article 1 names the individual as Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed by a Secret Service sniper.

  • Armament: Reports consistently state the man was armed with a shotgun and a gas cannister or fuel can.

  • Entry Point: The individual breached the inner perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, near a gate on the north side.

  • Official Response: Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed the detection of unauthorized entry and the subsequent investigation by deputies and Secret Service agents. U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the Miami Field Office provided initial statements.

  • Investigation Avenues: Officials are reportedly looking into whether the shotgun was purchased along the man's route from North Carolina to Florida.

  • Presidential Presence: President Trump was confirmed to be at the White House at the time of the incident, not at Mar-a-Lago.

Official Statements and Law Enforcement Accounts

"A security detail detected that someone entered the Florida club's perimeter." - Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw

"the incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m." - Secret Service Statement

"the individual was declared dead at the scene." - Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw

"no law enforcement personnel were injured during the incident." - Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros

"Officials are investigating whether he purchased the shotgun along his driving route from North Carolina to Florida." - CBS News reporting on Sheriff Bradshaw's remarks

"Nobody who receives protection from the Secret Service was present at the time of the shooting." - Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service communication chief

Further Investigation Needed

The conflicting reports on the deceased's identity necessitate clarification. Was Thomas Matthew Crooks and Austin Tucker Martin the same individual, or are there two separate incidents being conflated or reported with errors? Furthermore, the precise circumstances leading to the use of lethal force require thorough examination by investigative bodies. The nature of the "gas cannister" or "fuel can" and its intended use remain points for further inquiry.

Read More: Tucson Woman Nancy Guthrie Missing Since Jan 31; Mexico Travel and Ransom Note Claims Investigated

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Conclusion

An armed individual was fatally shot by law enforcement after breaching a secure area of Mar-a-Lago early Sunday morning. While the man's identity is currently disputed between Thomas Matthew Crooks and Austin Tucker Martin, reports confirm he was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. He reached the property's inner perimeter, leading to an engagement with a sheriff's deputy and Secret Service agents. President Trump was not on the premises. Investigations are ongoing to determine the individual's full background and the precise sequence of events.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday morning, February 22nd?
Early Sunday morning, law enforcement shot and killed an armed man who entered a secure area of President Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. The man was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can when he breached the property's inner perimeter.
Q: Who was the man shot at Mar-a-Lago?
There are conflicting reports about the man's identity, with some sources naming him as Austin Tucker Martin and others as Thomas Matthew Crooks. Investigations are ongoing to confirm his identity.
Q: Was President Trump at Mar-a-Lago during the incident?
No, President Trump was not at the Mar-a-Lago residence at the time of the incident. He was at the White House.
Q: Were any law enforcement officers injured during the Mar-a-Lago incident?
No, law enforcement personnel were not injured during the incident. The man who breached the perimeter was declared dead at the scene.
Q: What did the man carry when he breached the Mar-a-Lago perimeter?
The man was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can when he entered the inner perimeter of Mar-a-Lago near a gate on the north side.