The 21-year-old North Carolina man who was shot and killed after driving onto President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort with a shotgun worked as a golf course groundskeeper and sold detailed pen drawings, according to family members who describe him as apolitical and fearful of firearms.
Family Expresses Shock Over Incident
Austin Tucker Martin, who came from a family of Trump supporters, rarely discussed politics and seemed afraid of guns, according to his cousin Braeden Fields. "I wouldn't believe he would do something like this. It's mind-blowing," Fields told The Associated Press. "He wouldn't even hurt an ant. He doesn't even know how to use a gun."
Details of the Mar-a-Lago Incident
Martin drove through a gate at the secure Palm Beach, Florida resort early Sunday morning and raised a shotgun at two Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy. The officers opened fire "to neutralize the threat," according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. President Trump, who frequently spends weekends at Mar-a-Lago, was at the White House during the incident.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive for Martin's actions. This incident follows two assassination attempts against Trump during the 2024 campaign, including one that occurred just miles from Mar-a-Lago when a man was spotted aiming a rifle through shrubbery while Trump was golfing.
Background of the Deceased
Martin lived with his mother in a modest modular home down a rutted sandy road near Cameron, North Carolina. His family had recently reported him missing before the incident. According to his cousin, Martin's sister died in a car accident several years ago, and he has an older brother serving in the military.
For the past three years, Martin worked as a groundskeeper at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines. "It's tragic. I feel for his family," said Kelly Miller, president of the golf course. "It's just unfortunate what transpired. It was totally unexpected."
Artistic Pursuits and Firearm Aversion
Despite growing up in central North Carolina where hunting and firearms are common, Martin consistently avoided guns during family outings, according to his cousin. "Whenever we'd go hunting or target shooting, Martin would never pick up a gun," Fields explained.
Martin had recently started a business to sell his pen drawings, according to state records. A website matching his company name features detailed illustrations of golf courses, buildings, and ancient Roman architecture. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi indicated investigators believe Martin purchased his shotgun while driving to Florida.
"We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody," Fields said about their family, but noted his cousin was "real quiet, never really talked about anything" regarding politics.
