What we know about the man killed at Mar-a-Lago

[ad_1] The person who authorities mentioned breached the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago wielding a shotgun and a gasoline canister early Sunday had by no means proven an urge for food for lethal weapons nor proven a lot curiosity in politics -- in truth, fairly the alternative, in keeping with his cousin.

Austin Tucker Martin was "very quiet" and inexperienced with weapons, his cousin Braeden Fields mentioned. Martin did, nonetheless, like golf programs, and labored on one, his cousin mentioned.

"He would not even know easy methods to use a gun. He is by no means used a gun," Fields advised ABC station WTVD hours after Martin had been shot and killed whereas authorities say he was attempting to enter President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Seaside, Florida.

Trump was in Washington, D.C., on the time of the incident.

Braeden Fields, Austin Tucker Martin's cousin, speaks to reporters on Feb. 22, 2026, in Moore County, North Carolina.

Patrick Priest/WTVD

"I am a giant hunter, and I've, I've had him round weapons on a regular basis, and he is by no means used one. He will not, he don't love them. He do not prefer it, it hurts his ears," Fields mentioned of his cousin.

Although Martin has an older brother within the navy, his pursuits have been elsewhere, Fields mentioned.

"We took him to shoot weapons, however he will not contact them," Fields mentioned. "The one gun he is used is a BB gun."

As federal brokers raided the household's woodsy property in North Carolina, Fields mentioned there had been no indication Martin would ever enterprise 700 miles south on any type of political campaign.

What's extra, the household are "massive Trump supporters," Fields mentioned. "All of us. Everyone."

Martin "by no means actually talked about -- he did not need to get into politics," Fields mentioned.

"We grew up collectively, virtually," Fields mentioned. "I by no means, I would not imagine that he would do one thing like this. Thoughts-blowing."

Martin labored at a golf course getting it prepared for the season, Fields mentioned, and appreciated to ship his paychecks to charity.

A web site registered to Martin exhibits a fledgling penchant for watercolor and ink art work of golf programs. The corporate describes its deal with "bringing to life the hopeful feeling of being on a golf course."

Martin's household had reported him lacking early Sunday, in keeping with authorities. It was nearly precisely the timeframe through which police say Martin breached Mar-a-Lago's perimeter.

"On February 22, 2026, at roughly 1:38 a.m., a relative of 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin approached a deputy at an area enterprise and reported him lacking," in keeping with the Moore County Sheriff's Workplace.

Police in Florida mentioned the incident started at 1:30 a.m. when Mar-a-Lago safety "detected {that a} particular person had made his method into the inside perimeter." Once they went to research "they confronted a white male that was carried a gasoline can and a shotgun."

Martin was entered right into a nationwide lacking individual database when his household reported him lacking, in keeping with the sheriff's workplace. They have been then advised by federal authorities they have been "conducting an lively investigation in Florida involving Martin. At their request, the lacking individual case info has been turned over to federal investigators."