Bizarre texts show gunman shot dead by Secret Service at Mar-a-Lago was obsessed with Epstein files
A 21-year-old man was shot and killed by Secret Service agents and local police after sneaking onto President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday. Authorities said he was armed and appeared to be in a “shooting position” on the property.
The man, identified as Austin Tucker Martin, had been reported missing by his family the day before. His mother, Melissa Martin, created a missing person poster, noting a silver Volkswagen he may have been driving.
According to TMZ, Martin had exchanged unusual text messages with a coworker on February 15, just a week before traveling to Florida. In the messages, he discussed the Epstein files, writing: “I don’t know if you read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable. The best people like you and I can do is use what little influence we have. Tell other people about what you hear about the Epstein files and what the government is doing about it. Raise awareness.” The coworker did not respond. On Sunday morning, shortly before Martin’s death, the coworker texted, “Hey! Where are you?”
The texts were sent through a secure RCS chat. Martin lived in Cameron, North Carolina, with his parents and worked nearby at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. Sources told TMZ he was concerned that the government was covering up information in the Epstein files, allowing powerful figures to “get away with it.”
Colleagues also said Martin expressed frustration over economic struggles facing young adults, including housing affordability, and attempted to organize a union at his workplace, which received no support. Sources noted that Martin was a supporter of President Trump. His 19-year-old cousin, Braeden Fields, told The Associated Press that most of their family backed Trump and described Martin as “quiet” and unlikely to commit violence. “He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun,” Fields said.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for Martin’s actions. At the time of the incident, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at the White House. Investigations are ongoing, and officials have asked residents in the area to review security footage that might shed light on the incident.
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