A 21-year-old man named Austin Tucker Martin was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after he broke through the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago carrying a shotgun. His final text messages show that he was deeply focused on the Epstein files and believed the government was involved in a major cover-up.
According to TMZ, the incident took place when Martin tried to enter Mar-a-Lago armed with a shotgun and a gas canister. Palm Beach County’s sheriff confirmed that Martin pointed his gun at officers before they opened fire. The confrontation was described as dangerous and volatile.
Martin’s obsession with the Epstein files was confirmed through text messages sent on February 15, as well as by people who worked with him at a North Carolina golf course. His co-workers at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club said he became intensely focused on the Epstein situation after the latest document releases, and often talked about his belief that powerful people were “getting away with it.”
Martin’s final texts show a man driven by his belief that the Epstein cover-up was real and urgent
In those texts, Martin wrote, “I don’t know if you read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable.” He went on to say, “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 attack happened less than a month after the Justice Department released its latest batch of Epstein-related documents. Attorney General Pam Bondi had stated that the DOJ fully complied with federal law and released “all” Epstein documents, which included 3.5 million files published at the end of January.
NEW: The armed man shot and killed by Secret Service agents outside Mar-a-Lago had reportedly become increasingly obsessed with the Epstein files and was also a vocal Trump supporter.
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 22, 2026
Austin Tucker Martin sent a text to a co-worker on February 15, 2026, obtained by TMZ, that… pic.twitter.com/POPQXugsnA
The released files also shed light on how Epstein operated behind the scenes, including how Epstein recruited hackers to erase his criminal past from the internet. Martin had reportedly expressed support for President Trump in the past, though his decision to try and breach the president’s estate suggests his views had shifted significantly. Trump has stated that the released files “absolve” him of any wrongdoing.
An FBI document included in the releases showed that back in 2006, Trump thanked Florida police for investigating Epstein and told them to focus on “evil” Ghislaine Maxwell. The files have also revealed other surprising connections to Epstein, including how Sarah Ferguson begged Epstein for a job as his house assistant. The incident serves as a sobering example of how deeply a person can be consumed by their belief in a cover-up, particularly in high-profile cases like the Epstein files.
