An armed man has been shot dead after entering the secure perimeter of US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, according to the Secret Service.
The incident occurred around 01:30 ET on Sunday morning, while the president was in Washington DC. The suspect, identified as Austin T Martin of Cameron, North Carolina, was carrying a shotgun and fuel can when he was stopped and shot by Secret Service agents and a Sheriff's deputy.
As reported by the BBC's US partner CBS, the suspect's family had reported him missing on Saturday. Officials are investigating whether he purchased the gun along his driving route from North Carolina to Florida.
Police Response
Secret Service agents fired at the suspect after he was seen "unlawfully entering the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago early this morning", said agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. The suspect was observed carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can near the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated that the suspect was shot after refusing orders to drop the items. According to Bradshaw, the suspect put down the gas can but raised the shotgun to a shooting position, prompting agents to fire their weapons to "neutralise the threat".
Investigation Underway
The FBI will be assisting in the investigation, which will include determining whether the suspect's gun was loaded. The officers involved were wearing body cameras, and no law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
Security at Mar-a-Lago is extremely tight, with an outer cordon of local Palm Beach sheriffs and an inner one maintained by the Secret Service. Visitors are searched, and cars and bags are swept by dogs and metal detectors.
