A U.S. Secret Service security tower at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, after Secret Service and local police shot and killed a man armed with a shotgun after he breached a secure perimeter of the resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. February 22, 2026. REUTERS/Marco Bello
(Palm Beach, Florida) – An armed man was shot and killed early Sunday after entering the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, according to the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement.
Authorities said the man, described as white and in his early 20s, breached the north gate area of the property and was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel canister.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw said officers ordered the suspect to drop the items. The man reportedly put down the canister but raised the shotgun into a “shooting position,” prompting law enforcement officers — including Secret Service agents — to open fire.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
President Donald Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the incident. He had hosted state governors at the White House Saturday evening and had no public events scheduled Sunday. The president has not publicly commented on the shooting.
At least two Secret Service agents and one Palm Beach County deputy were involved, according to authorities. Agents at the scene were equipped with body cameras.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating. FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles asked nearby residents to review overnight security footage for any suspicious activity.
Road access near South Ocean Boulevard, which leads to Mar-a-Lago, was partially restricted Sunday morning as investigators worked the scene.
Previous Security Incidents
The shooting follows previous security threats tied to Trump’s Florida properties.
In September 2024, Secret Service agents opened fire on Ryan W. Routh, who was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate Trump near one of his golf courses.
Earlier that summer, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire from a rooftop, killing one attendee and injuring others. Trump was struck in the ear. The attacker, Thomas M. Crooks, was shot and killed by law enforcement.
The Secret Service faced scrutiny after that incident over security lapses identified in subsequent investigations.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect in Sunday’s shooting. The investigation remains ongoing.
