Authorities are piecing together the events leading up to the killing of Austin Tucker Martin, the gunman who was killed by Secret Service agents outside President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort early Sunday. It has been revealed that the 21-year-old has expressed his frustration following the publication of the latest set of Jeffrey Epstein files.
Neither Trump nor First Lady Melania was in Palm Beach when the shooting occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. local time. A Secret Service spokesman revealed that Martin had a gas can and a rifle. The suspect was from North Carolina, and authorities said his family had recently reported him missing.
Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman, said he believed he bought his gun while driving south, and a box for the gun was later discovered in the man’s car.
The focus was on Epstein
Austin Tucker Martin has shown some interest in the Jeffrey Epstein files and, according to those who knew him, has recently become obsessed with conspiracy theories involving government secrecy, TMZ reported, citing texts he sent to a co-worker.
Co-workers at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in North Carolina told the outlet he was frustrated that powerful figures were “getting away with murder,” a reference to the Epstein files.
His concerns were also echoed in a text message he sent on February 15, 2026 to a co-worker. In the letter obtained by TMZ, Martin wrote: “I don’t know if you’ve read about the Epstein files, but the evil is real and unmistakable.” He added: “The best thing you and I can do is use what little influence we have. Tell others about what you’re hearing about the Epstein files and what the government is doing about it. Raise awareness.”
Support Trump and the Christian faith
Along with these beliefs, Martin has increasingly spoken about his Christian faith and political views. According to several people who worked with him, he made no secret of his support for Trump, and late last year he praised the former president as a “strong leader.”
Friends and colleagues say Martin seemed genuinely well-intentioned, but became frustrated by the broader economic struggles affecting young Americans. He often vented about the cost of living, complaining that moving out required multiple jobs or roommates.
Although he attempted to form a union at his workplace in an attempt to secure higher wages, these efforts never gained traction. Martin was still living with his parents and supplemented his income by selling pencil drawings of local landscapes and portraits.
The deadly encounter occurred when Martin breached a secure perimeter near Mar-a-Lago’s north gate.
