Gunman dies after breaking into Mar-a-Lago; Trump was not in the residence

An armed man was killed early this Sunday, February 22, after trying to enter the residence of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, in Florida. The incident occurred near Mar-a-Lago, the president’s private property located in Palm Beach.

According to official information, the individual was carrying a shotgun and a can of gasoline when he approached one of the entrances to the complex. After crossing the security perimeter, he was confronted by federal agents, who activated their weapons to neutralize the threat.

ENTRY TO THE PERIMETER AND ARMED RESPONSE

The incident occurred around 1:30 local time. According to reports cited by the AFP agency, the suspect managed to approach one of the access doors, specifically in the northern sector of the property.

United States Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that the man was killed after illegally entering the restricted area. In a message spread on social networks, he specified that elements of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office also participated in the intervention.

Authorities reported that no officers were injured during the operation.

TRUMP WAS IN WASHINGTON

At the time of the incident, the president was not in Florida. Official sources indicated that he remained in the capital, Washington DC. Therefore, neither he nor his family were directly exposed to the attack.

The quick action of the security teams prevented the suspect from advancing beyond the exterior access.

PROFILE OF THE SUSPECT

Authorities described the attacker as a man of approximately 20 years old. Until the closing of this edition, his identity and possible motivations had not been made known.

The case adds to a series of recent threats against the Republican president. Which keeps the protection protocols around his figure under scrutiny.

BACKGROUND OF ATTEMPTED ATTACKS

Earlier this month, Ryan Routh, 59, was sentenced to life in prison for planning an attack against Trump in September 2024 at a golf course in Florida.

That episode occurred two months after another assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, when Matthew Crooks, 20, shot the then-candidate several times, slightly wounding him in the right ear.

SAFETY UNDER PRESSURE

The new incident reignites the debate about the risks faced by high-profile political figures in the United States and the effectiveness of protective devices. Although the president was not present, the event shows the potential vulnerability even in residences with strict access controls.

Investigations continue to determine whether the attacker acted alone and what his specific intentions were.