The young man killed after entering the vicinity of Mar-a-Lago, an estate owned by President Donald Trump, has been identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of Carthage, North Carolina, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Flyers containing his name and photo were shared on Facebook as a plea for help locating him. He was last heard from around 8 p.m. (EST) on February 21, according to his mother, according to The Palm Beach Post.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office released a statement reporting that Martin was declared missing by his family at approximately 1:38 a.m., on February 22nd, when a relative approached a deputy at a local business to file the report. The missing person case was later handed over to federal investigators after authorities informed the Sheriff’s Office that they were conducting an active investigation in Florida involving Martin. The statement specified that any questions regarding the shooting and investigation should be directed to the FBI’s Miami Field Office and the U.S. Secret Service.
“The Moore County Sheriff’s Office had no prior history involving Martin before the missing person report,” according to the statement.
Some social media commenters used the acronym “FAFO,” a slang term meaning “F— Around and Find Out,” implying that someone will face consequences for engaging in risky behavior.
“They found him playing FAFO,” one user posted.
“Another one finds out the true meaning of FAFO,” another wrote.
Others made lighthearted remarks. One user commented, “Everyone in Moore County, NC, is getting ready for that Netflix money! [Laughing Hard Emoji]”
Meanwhile, some expressed sympathy for Martin’s family.
“I’m sorry for the family’s loss. [Prayer Emoji] People need to have a little more compassion,” one person wrote.
Another commenter added: “This person has family, a mother, locally. This is one of our neighbors. His family is grieving. And some of y’all are celebrating? I don’t care what the politics are — this was likely a mental health issue, and now someone’s child is dead. No wonder mental health care is a joke in this country. We keep treating it like a moral failing and not an illness. I do pray for y’all. I pray you get exactly what you deserve.”
Martin drove from Moore County, North Carolina, to Palm Beach, Florida, according to authorities. According to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Martin entered the property near its north gate and was confronted by two Secret Service agents and a deputy. After being ordered to drop his weapons, he put down a gas can but “raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said. The two agents and the deputy then opened fire, killing him.
Officials have not declared a motive. However, a report from TMZ, which said it obtained text messages Martin allegedly sent to a co-worker at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, suggests he may have been upset about the handling of the Epstein files. The outlet reported that Martin, described as an avid Trump supporter and Christian, had grown increasingly fixated on the Epstein files and what he believed to be a government cover-up involving powerful individuals.
In a text message dated February 15, 2026, and obtained by the outlet, Martin reportedly wrote to a co-worker:
“I don’t know if you’ve read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable.” he wrote.
“The best people like you and I can do is use what little influence we have. Tell other people about what you hear about the Epstein files and what the government is doing about it. Raise awareness.”
Trump wasn’t at Mar-a-Lago, at the time, of the incident; Photo Credit: Getty Images and AP
According to PBS, Martin’s cousin, Braeden Fields, who grew up with him, said he was surprised by the incident. “I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing,” Fields said, describing Martin as quiet, afraid of guns, and from a family of avid Trump supporters. Fields also said Martin donated part of each paycheck to charity.
“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun…We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody,” Fields said.
Neither Trump nor first lady Melania Trump were at Mar-a-Lago at the time. They were in Washington, D.C. hosting the National Governors Association Dinner at the White House.
This marks the second known attempted attack targeting Trump. The first widely publicized incident occurred on July 13, 2024 during an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when Trump was struck in the ear by a gunman’s bullet but survived. Secret Service agents, at the time, quickly rushed him offstage and killed the shooter. A separate incident occurred later when a North Carolina man, Ryan Routh, was arrested after plotting to assassinate Trump in September 2024. The shooting occurred at a golf course near West Palm Beach. Routh was later sentenced to life in prison for his actions.
