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“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,” the agency said. Agents involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, in line with standard protocol.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw provided additional details during a brief press conference. He explained that two Secret Service agents and one PBSO deputy confronted the suspect at the estate’s front gate. “He was instructed to drop the weapon,” Bradshaw said. The suspect, identified as a white male, allegedly raised the shotgun into a shooting position.
“At that point, the agents and the deputy opened fire, and the suspect is deceased at the scene as of this report,” Bradshaw added. He also displayed a photo of the weapon and the gas can used in the attempted breach.
The FBI is now leading the investigation and has requested that residents with security or doorbell cameras in the area review footage for any potential clues. Officials have not released information regarding the suspect’s identity or motive.
The timing of the incident is particularly notable given that it comes just weeks after would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison. Routh had attempted to target Trump in September 2024 near the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, hiding in shrubbery along the fence line. A Secret Service agent spotted him aiming a weapon and fired, prompting Routh to flee before being apprehended in nearby Martin County.
Routh faced multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault on a federal officer, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He represented himself in court and was sentenced on February 4.
Mar-A-Lago has long been a focus of heightened security, with multiple incidents over the years involving trespassers and protesters. Investigators also uncovered a suspicious hunting stand outside Palm Beach International Airport last year, highlighting ongoing security concerns in the area.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials emphasize that the protective measures in place at Mar-A-Lago successfully prevented what could have been a deadly outcome. The Secret Service, PBSO, and FBI are coordinating closely to determine the circumstances surrounding this latest incident.
