Gunman shot dead in Mar-a-Lago was ‘fixated on Epstein files’ and avid Trump supporter, friends say

A North Carolina man who was fatally changeable early Sunday arsenic he allegedly attempted to participate President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate successful Florida was an avid protagonist of nan president, but was “fixated” connected the Epstein files, those who knew him say.

Authorities person said that Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of Moore County, was equipped pinch a shotgun and a state canister erstwhile he encountered 2 Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s lawman conscionable wrong Mar-a-Lago’s northbound gross astir 1:30 a.m. The president and first woman were successful Washington, D.C., astatine nan time.

The officers ordered Martin to put down nan gear, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters Sunday. Martin past lowered nan canister but “raised nan shotgun to a shooting position.”

“At that constituent successful time, nan lawman and nan 2 Secret Service agents fired their weapons,” nan sheriff said.

Family members reported Martin missing complete nan play and were stunned by nan news, according to various media outlets.

Here’s what we cognize astir nan alleged gunman.

‘Fixated’ connected Epstein files

Martin was “outspoken astir his Christian religion and views,” colleagues from Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club successful North Carolina told TMZ, and believed that President Trump was a “strong leader.”

He had go fixated connected nan latest release of millions of documents by nan Department of Justice related to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and was profoundly concerned by nan imaginable of a authorities cover-up and powerful group “getting distant pinch it.”

“I don’t cognize if you publication up connected nan Epstein Files, but evil is existent and unmistakable,” Martin wrote successful a matter connection to a co-worker connected February 15, a transcript of which was obtained by TMZ.

“The champion group for illustration you and I tin do is usage what small power we have. Tell different group astir what you perceive astir nan Epstein files and what nan authorities is doing astir it. Raise awareness.”

‘He wouldn’t moreover wounded an ant’

Those who knew Martin were shocked to study of nan attempted break-in and shooting.

“He’s a bully kid,” his cousin, Braeden Fields, told nan Associated Press. “I wouldn't judge he would do thing for illustration this. It’s mind-blowing.”

“He wouldn’t moreover wounded an ant,” Fields added. “He doesn’t moreover cognize really to usage a gun.”

Fields described Martin’s family arsenic a group of “avid Trump supporters” and said nan 21-year-old was “real quiet, ne'er really talked astir anything.”

Other sources adjacent to Martin told TMZ he was “well-meaning but progressively frustrated, peculiarly astir nan economy.” He often complained that young group needed much than 1 occupation to past and had tried to commencement a national astatine his workplace to push for amended wages.

Martin, who graduated successful 2023 from Union Pines High School successful Cameron, was listed successful voting records arsenic unaffiliated pinch a governmental party, according to documents obtained by The News & Observer.

Last year, Martin started a business making hand-drawn play people designs.

“Fresh Sky Illustrations is an artwork institution that chiefly focuses connected bringing to life nan hopeful emotion of being connected a play people by illustrating play people scenes and providing framed copies of handmade useful successful various play people gift shops while handling individual commissions connected nan side,” a website for nan endeavor reads.

Brandon Huneycutt, caput play master astatine nan Quail Ridge Golf Course successful Sanford, North Carolina, told The News & Observer he concisely met Martin respective years agone and allowed him to usage a play cart and spot parts of nan course.

“I conjecture he took pictures of them, and he went location and really hand-drew nan pictures,” Huneycutt said. “They’re beautiful bully pieces.”

A car recovered adjacent Mar-a-Lago is thought to beryllium Martin’s metallic Volkswagen. Inside, constabulary recovered a container that appeared to person been carrying nan suspect’s shotgun.

Investigators judge Martin bought nan limb arsenic he headed southbound for Florida, according to Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for nan Secret Service.

The FBI is starring nan investigation.

Threats astatine Trump and 1 different astatine Mar-a-Lago

Trump and his properties person faced a drawstring of information threats since nan 2024 run season.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was later killed, grazed nan Republican pinch a bullet during a rally successful Pennsylvania successful July 2024.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, attempted to termination Trump adjacent Mar-a-Lago later that year, pointing a firearm done a obstruction bordering nan Trump International Golf Club, according to national prosecutors.

Earlier this month, Routh was sentenced to life successful national prison.

Routh has revenge an entreaty challenging his condemnation and sentence, according to tribunal documents.