U.S. Secret Service agents in the early hours of Sunday fatally shot a man who unlawfully entered the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
9news Nigeria learnt that the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time, when the suspect was spotted near the north gate of the sprawling estate.
According to the United States Secret Service, the individual was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can at the time of the encounter.
Agents, alongside a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, confronted the man shortly after he was detected within the restricted zone.
Shots were fired during the confrontation, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that no Secret Service personnel or sheriff’s deputies sustained injuries during the incident.
President Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago when the shooting occurred. He was reportedly at the White House in Washington, D.C., at the time of the breach.
Although the White House had yet to release an official statement as of press time, sources indicated that the president had been briefed on the development.
9news Nigeria reports that the identity of the deceased has not been made public. Preliminary reports described him as a man in his 20s.
Law enforcement agencies have also not disclosed a possible motive for the unauthorised entry or provided additional details regarding the suspected weapons recovered at the scene.
A joint press briefing involving the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has been scheduled for later in the day to give further updates on the ongoing investigation.
Mar-a-Lago, located in Palm Beach, serves as a frequent residence and retreat for President Trump and remains under strict security protocols as a designated protected site.
Officials emphasised that the perimeter breach was swiftly addressed and that there was no further threat to public safety.
The incident marks the latest security scare at one of the president’s properties, underscoring the heightened vigilance surrounding high-profile locations linked to the U.S. leader.
