FBI Identifies 21-Year-Old North Carolina Man in Fatal Mar-a-Lago Officer-Involved Shooting

by News Desk | Feb 22, 2026 · 8:18 am | Palm Beach County News

Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, where the U.S. Secret Service, FBI and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are scheduled to discuss an overnight investigation. File photo.

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Editor’s note: This story has been updated. The latest developments appear at the bottom.


PALM BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Federal and local law enforcement agencies are scheduled to speak Sunday morning about an overnight investigation at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.

The U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are planning a news briefing at 9 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, according to a media advisory.

The briefing is set to take place at a park on the south side of Southern Boulevard, just before the bridge into Palm Beach. That location sits on the approach many drivers use to enter the island.

The agencies have not released details about what happened overnight, what prompted the investigation, or whether anyone was taken into custody. The advisory describes it only as an “overnight investigation” at Mar-a-Lago.

Mar-a-Lago is located in Palm Beach, and the briefing is expected to address what investigators can confirm about the incident, what areas were involved, and what steps are next. For residents, the immediate takeaway is that multiple agencies are involved and have chosen to provide information in a coordinated public update.

As of the advisory, officials have not said whether the public should expect any ongoing road impacts near Southern Boulevard or the bridge approach, or whether the investigation has any continuing public safety concerns. That is typically the kind of operational detail addressed at a scheduled multi-agency briefing.

Boca Post will update this story as information is released at the 9 a.m. briefing.


UPDATE — February 23, 2026

Federal authorities have identified the man killed in Sunday’s officer-involved shooting at Mar-a-Lago and outlined new details about the ongoing investigation.

In a Monday update, the FBI said the deceased subject has been identified as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of Moore County, North Carolina.

The shooting occurred during the early morning hours of February 22 at the Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach. The investigation remains active and is being led by FBI Miami, in coordination with the United States Secret Service, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI Charlotte.

According to the FBI, agents secured the shooting scene immediately afterward. Members of the Evidence Response Team collected physical evidence for analysis, and the Mar-a-Lago scene was released Sunday evening.

Authorities also expanded the investigation beyond Florida.

FBI Charlotte agents went to Martin’s residence in Moore County, North Carolina, where they collected additional evidence. That scene was released early Monday morning, the agency said.

Investigators have also located and taken possession of Martin’s vehicle. It has been transported to a secure FBI facility for further forensic processing.

Federal officials said additional investigative steps include:

• Conducting interviews with Martin’s family, friends, and acquaintances
• Reviewing digital devices
• Tracing his travel route from North Carolina to Palm Beach County
• Reviewing social media activity
• Conducting neighborhood canvasses

“Part of the ongoing investigation is to build a timeline of Martin’s movements, stops, purchases, and interactions with other people during his drive from North Carolina to Palm Beach County in addition to attempting to establish a possible motive,” said Brett Skiles, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami.

Authorities are asking the public for assistance as they continue to reconstruct the timeline.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Secret Service said the investigation remains ongoing.

More updates will be published as additional information becomes available.

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