
Mar-a-Lago Intruder Shot Dead by Law Enforcement; Federal Investigation Underway
An armed man in his early 20s was shot and killed early Friday morning after breaching the secure perimeter of the Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, according to a Sunday morning statement released by the United States Secret Service.
The agency said that “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 name has not yet been released pending notification of relatives, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to the statement, the man was first seen “by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.” Agents from the Secret Service, together with a PBSO deputy, confronted him shortly thereafter. “Shots were fired by law enforcement during the encounter,” the agency said. No law-enforcement personnel were injured.
Authorities emphasized that “there were no Secret Service protectees present at the location at the time of the incident.” The property, which is secured around the clock, has been the site of heightened security activity in recent years.
Federal and local investigators are now examining the background of the deceased, his actions prior to the breach, and any possible motive. The statement noted that “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.”
As is standard protocol, “the involved Secret Service agents will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Further details are expected as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the predawn confrontation.