A man was shot and killed by US Secret Service agents early Sunday after breaching the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate of US President Donald Trump, authorities said.
"A male in his early 20s was shot by US Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office following an unauthorized entry into the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago," Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said on US X.
The man was seen near the property's north gate around 1.30 am local time (0630GMT) carrying "what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can" before law enforcement confronted and shot him. He was pronounced dead.
No Secret Service or sheriff's office personnel were injured. Neither Trump nor anyone under Secret Service protection was at the property at the time.
Investigations lanched
The FBI, Secret Service, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office have launched a joint investigation into the incident, including the man's background, potential motives, and the use of force. Agents involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome.
The man's identity was withheld pending notification of his family.
In September 2024, Trump – then a private citizen seeking to win back the presidency for a second term – was the target of an assassination attempt while golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida. The would-be assassin was captured, tried, and sentenced to life in prison.
The incident followed an assassination attempt that July in Pennsylvania, with a bullet grazing Trump's neck during a campaign rally.
