An armed man was shot dead after entering the secure perimeter of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the Secret Service confirmed.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET on Sunday while Trump was in Washington, D.C.
Authorities said the suspect, described as a white male in his early 20s, was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can when confronted by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy.
Agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the man “unlawfully entered the secure perimeter” and raised his shotgun after being ordered to drop it. Officers opened fire to neutralise the threat. No law enforcement personnel were injured.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff, Ric Bradshaw, said it is unclear if the shotgun was loaded. The investigation is ongoing with assistance from the FBI.
Security remains tight at Mar-a-Lago, with Secret Service protecting the inner perimeter and local deputies maintaining an outer cordon. All visitors and vehicles are screened.
Trump has previously faced assassination attempts. In July 2024, he was shot in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania; one bystander was killed and two others injured.
The gunman, Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by security. Later, a rifle was found at Trump International Golf Club in Florida; the suspect, Ryan Routh, fled but was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
