Armed man shot dead after trying to enter Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida

A white man in his early 20s was shot and killed by US Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy after entering a restricted security zone at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida early Sunday, authorities said.

Trump was in Washington at the time, and no protectees were present at the property during the incident, the Secret Service confirmed.

According to officials, the man approached the north gate of the West Palm Beach estate carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can before moving into the protected perimeter around the resort.

"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," the Secret Service said in a statement.

Agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy confronted him inside the restricted zone. During the encounter, officers opened fire, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released pending notification of his family.

No Secret Service or sheriff's personnel were injured.

The FBI, the Secret Service and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office are jointly investigating the shooting, including the man's background, actions and possible motive.

At a press briefing, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the man entered the inner security perimeter of Mar-a-Lago at about 1:30 am local time. Deputies and federal agents found him carrying a shotgun and a petrol canister. Officers ordered him to drop the items; he released the container but then raised the firearm into a firing position.

"At that point, agents fired their weapons to neutralise the threat," Bradshaw said.

US Secret Service Special Agent Rafael Barros said two federal agents were directly involved in the shooting. Preliminary information confirmed the suspect was carrying a petrol container.

FBI spokesman Brett Skiles said investigators are collecting physical and forensic evidence. He urged residents near the resort to review exterior security camera footage from around the time of the incident and report any unusual activity.

The incident occurred only a few miles from Trump's West Palm Beach golf course, where a man attempted to assassinate him during a round of golf in the 2024 election campaign.

Mar-a-Lago is Trump's private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Built in the 1920s as a lavish oceanfront estate, Trump purchased the 126-room property in 1985 and later converted much of it into a members-only resort while retaining private living quarters.

Often referred to as the "Winter White House," it serves as a regular presidential retreat, hosting political meetings, fundraisers and diplomatic guests.