(Washington) A gunman was shot and killed after entering the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s vacation home in Palm Beach, Florida, the Secret Service announced Sunday.
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Although Mr. Trump often spends his weekends at his second home, he was at the White House at the time of the incident. First lady Melania Trump was also with the president in Washington on Saturday evening.
The name of the person shot has not been released. According to the Secret Service, he was “seen near the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property, carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a can of gasoline.” The event occurred at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday.
PHOTO STEVE HELBER, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
A view of Mar-a-Lago
The suspect, aged around 20 and from North Carolina, was reported missing a few days ago by his family. Investigators believe he left the state and headed South, picking up a shotgun along the way, said Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman. The box containing the weapon was found in his vehicle, Mr. Guglielmi added.
The man entered the north gate of Mar-a-Lago as another vehicle was exiting and was stopped by members of the Secret Service, Mr. Guglielmi said. Officers confronted the gunman and he was shot. Investigators are working to establish a psychological profile and the motive is still under investigation.
President Trump has previously faced death threats. He was injured in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.
PHOTO BRENDAN MCDERMID, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Donald Trump was the victim of an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024.
Then, on September 15, 2024, a man armed with a rifle was arrested after waiting near his golf course in West Palm Beach while the president played a round. He was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month.
This event comes as the United States has been shaken several times in recent years by political violence. Just last year saw the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Democratic leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and her husband, the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife, and an arson attack at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Saturday’s raid on Donald Trump’s Florida residence occurred just miles from his West Palm Beach golf club, where a man attempted to assassinate him while he was playing golf during the 2024 election campaign. A Secret Service agent spotted the man, Ryan Routh, aiming a rifle through the bushes before Mr. Trump appeared. According to authorities, Routh pointed his rifle at the officer, who opened fire and forced him to drop the weapon.
Routh was convicted last year and sentenced this month to life in prison.
This incident occurred months after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter fired eight shots, including a bullet that grazed the Republican’s ear, before being shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the incident.
