By mid-morning, federal agents had notified the sheriff’s office that Martin was the suspect killed outside Mar-a-Lago. The local missing-person file was then transferred to federal investigators, who obtained a warrant to search the Martin family’s wooded property for evidence that might explain the 700-mile trip to Palm Beach and the apparent attempt to breach the high-profile resort.
Family Describes a Quiet Man With Little Interest in Firearms
Relatives expressed disbelief that Martin carried a shotgun, saying he rarely handled weapons and disliked loud noises. Cousin Braeden Fields told reporters in Moore County that he is an avid hunter and had occasionally invited Martin to target-shoot, but Martin “would not touch a real gun,” preferring only a childhood BB rifle. Fields also said the family, including Martin, supported Trump politically and had never exhibited hostility toward the former president.
Investigators have not disclosed where or when Martin obtained the shotgun and gas canister. In a statement, the Secret Service said all aspects of the incident, including the acquisition of any weapons, will be reviewed by its National Threat Assessment Center in cooperation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Employment on a Golf Course and Online Art Venture
Martin lived with his mother in a sparsely populated area of Pinebluff, North Carolina, and recently worked on the grounds crew of a local golf club, preparing fairways and greens ahead of the spring season. Relatives said he enjoyed the landscaping work and often donated a portion of his pay to charities that serve veterans. A search of public domain records shows Martin registered a small online business that sells watercolor and ink illustrations of golf courses; the site advertised its mission as “bringing to life the hopeful feeling of being on a golf course.”
Friends told investigators Martin did not discuss politics and spent most free time sketching golf landscapes or watching instructional videos. Although his older brother serves in the military, there is no known record of Martin receiving weapons training, according to law-enforcement officials familiar with preliminary background checks.
Sequence of Events at the Resort
The precise timeline released by Palm Beach police indicates security cameras captured Martin entering the private club’s inner perimeter at 1:30 a.m. Personnel immediately placed the complex on lockdown and notified the Secret Service detail assigned to the property. A uniformed Secret Service officer and a sheriff’s deputy located Martin near the club’s south lawn. Officials said verbal commands were issued multiple times; when Martin moved the shotgun toward security staff, the officers fired. Forensic teams recovered the firearm, one spent shell in the chamber, and a full gasoline container.
Mar-a-Lago has been the subject of heightened security protocols since Trump left office, and the Secret Service maintains year-round coverage. Federal guidelines permit agents to use deadly force to protect a current or former president when an individual poses an imminent threat, as outlined in publicly available Secret Service policy documents (U.S. Secret Service Emergency Services).
Imagem: Internet
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not identified a motive. Palm Beach Police Chief Nicholas Caristo said investigators are reviewing Martin’s cell-phone data, social-media activity, vehicle records, and any recent purchases related to firearms or fuel. There is no immediate evidence that Martin acted in coordination with others, but officials have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects who might have assisted with transportation or logistics.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct the standard officer-involved shooting review, while the Secret Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility examines its agents’ actions for compliance with agency policy. Autopsy results from the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office are pending.
Family Cooperation and Community Reaction
Relatives in North Carolina are cooperating with federal agents, who executed a search warrant Sunday afternoon. Items removed from the residence included a desktop computer, art supplies, and several notebooks. Neighbors described Martin as polite and reserved, often seen mowing the family’s lawn or practicing golf swings in the yard.
Social-media commentary emerged swiftly after authorities released Martin’s identity, with some users speculating on political motivations. Family members said such speculation is painful, characterizing Martin as a “good kid” whose actions remain inexplicable to those who knew him. Martin’s mother has declined public interviews but, according to Fields, is “torn apart” by the events.
Local officials in Moore County said they plan no news conferences until they receive formal findings from federal agencies. Meanwhile, Mar-a-Lago operations resumed Sunday evening under standard security conditions.
As the parallel federal and state investigations proceed, key questions remain: how Martin obtained the shotgun, why he traveled to Palm Beach unannounced, and whether any warning signs were missed before he crossed one of the most heavily guarded property lines in the country.
Crédito da imagem: Patrick Priest/WTVD
