The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement shot and killed an armed man in his early 20s after he unlawfully entered the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, early Sunday morning, February 22, 2026.
The North Gate Breach
The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. EST. According to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, the suspect managed to drive through the north gate of the property just as another vehicle was exiting.
The man was observed exiting his vehicle carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can. He was immediately confronted within the restricted zone by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Law enforcement opened fire during the encounter, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. No protective personnel or deputies were injured.
The Suspect’s Background
While his identity has not been formally released pending family notification, investigators confirmed the suspect is from North Carolina and had been reported missing by his family several days prior. Authorities believe he drove south to Florida, acquiring the firearm along the way. The original box for the shotgun was later recovered inside his vehicle.
Presidential Safety and Ongoing Investigation
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were not at the Florida resort during the breach; they were at the White House in Washington, D.C., for the weekend.
The FBI has joined the Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in a joint investigation. Authorities are currently working to compile a psychological profile of the suspect to determine a motive.
This fatal encounter adds to a highly elevated security environment surrounding the President, following previous assassination attempts at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and near his West Palm Beach golf course in 2024.
