Shooting at Mar-a-Lago resort: Man enters secure perimeter of Donald Trump's golf course resort, killed by U.S. Secret Service agents

Shooting at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort: U.S. Secret Service, on Sunday, informed that its ⁠agents ⁠shot and killed a man, in his 20s, in the early hours ⁠after he tried to illegally enter ⁠a secure perimeter at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is currently in Washington.

Although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House during the incident. First lady Melania Trump was also with the president at the White House on Saturday night.

The man was carrying what appeared to be ‌a shotgun and a fuel can, ⁠the agency said, adding that he was observed at the resort's north gate around 1:30 a.m. EST (0630 GMT).

The exact intentions of the suspect behind the shooting at the resort, however, are unclear.

In a statement, the United States Secret Service said, "On February 22, around 1:30 a.m., a male in his early 20s was shot by U.S. Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) following an unauthorized entry into the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago."

The individual, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced deceased. The individual was observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can, it said.

"U.S. Secret Service agents and a PBSO deputy confronted the individual and shots were fired by law enforcement during the encounter. No U.S. Secret Service or PBSO personnel were injured. There were no Secret Service protectees present at the location at the time of the incident," it added.

"The incident, including the individual’s background, actions, potential motive, and the use of force, is under investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. In accordance with agency policy, the involved Secret Service agents will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation," the statement read.

The United States is facing a spike in political violence. In 2024, Trump faced two assassination attempts, including one at his golf ⁠course in West ‌Palm Beach. Melissa Hortman, a Democratic state lawmaker ‌in Minnesota, was shot and killed in June 2025 ‌along with her husband. ‌Months later, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was also assassinated.