An armed man was killed by Secret Service agents after breaching the secure perimeter of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence early Sunday morning. The individual was reported missing earlier that day by his family in North Carolina. The Moore County Sheriff's Office confirmed they had handed this information over to federal authorities.
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Upon his arrival at Mar-a-Lago, the man was seen carrying a shotgun and a fuel can at the north gate. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi stated that agents observed him unlawfully entering the property. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw reported that agents ordered him to drop the items, which he initially complied with for the gas can, but then he raised the shotgun, prompting agents to act.
This incident is part of a series of assassination attempts against Trump. In July 2024, Trump was shot in the ear during a rally in Pennsylvania, which resulted in a bystander's death and injuries to two others. The shooter in that incident was killed on the scene by security forces. Another attempt was foiled when a rifle was discovered at Trump International Golf Club; the person responsible was later sentenced to life in prison.
Following the Mar-a-Lago incident, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the political left, alleging they have contributed to normalizing violence, as reflected in the recent attempts on Trump's life. He stressed that this trend of political violence must end.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of political violence in the United States, which has been brought to the forefront by other recent high-profile incidents, such as the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's mansion and the fatal shootings of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 22 Feb 2026