NPR Adds Identity of Man Shot at Mar-a-Lago
A significant change was made to an NPR article about an incident at Mar-a-Lago, where a 21-year-old man was shot and killed by Secret Service agents. The article now includes the man's identity, Austin Tucker Martin of Moore County, North Carolina. The added information was included in a statement from Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, who said Martin made it to the 'inner perimeter' of Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and gas can before being stopped by agents. The article also includes a quote from the sheriff, detailing the events leading up to the shooting. This addition provides readers with more context and clarity about the incident, allowing for a better understanding of what occurred. The change is notable as it adds a personal dimension to the story, highlighting the individual involved and the specific circumstances of the incident.
Related Changes
Luke Garrett
A building is seen at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP/AP hide caption
U.S.
Trump was in Washington at the time.
Secret Service Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi said in a post that no agents or officers were injured, and no one the Secret Service protects was present at Mar-a-Lago during the shooting.
The FBI is leading the investigation.
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− Secret Service agents and a deputy with the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office shot and killed a man entering President Trump's private club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., early Sunday morning, officials said.
+ Secret Service officials said an armed man was shot and killed after he entered President Trump's private club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., early Sunday morning. The FBI later identified the man as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin of Moore County, North Carolina.
− In a post on X, Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokeswoman, praised the Secret Service's action: "In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump's home."
"Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans," she wrote. "It's shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department."
Democrats are negotiating with the White House on a deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, and has been without funding for more than a week, in exchange for changes to immigration enforcement operations.
+ Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters the man — who was later identified as Martin — made it to the "inner perimeter" of Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and gas can before agents stopped him.
− Earlier, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters the man — described to be in his early 20s — made it to the "inner perimeter" of Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and gas can before agents stopped him.
"They confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun," Bradshaw said.
+ "He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him," Bradshaw said.
− "He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him.
+ "At which time, he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position."
Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff's deputy then fired on him, Bradshaw said.
− At which time, he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position."
Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff's deputy then fired on and killed the man, Bradshaw said. The man died at the scene.
+ Martin died at the scene.
− Officials did not identify the man who was shot and killed.
+ In a post on X, Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokeswoman, praised the Secret Service's action: "In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump's home."
"Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans," she wrote. "It's shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department."
Democrats are negotiating with the White House on a deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, and has been without funding for more than a week, in exchange for changes to immigration enforcement operations.