Mar-a-Lago intruder Austin Tucker Martin's cousin says he was ‘good kid’ from pro-Trump family

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: The cousin of Austin Tucker Martin, the 21-year-old who was shot and killed after breaching the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, described him as a quiet young man whose actions were hard to comprehend. 

Speaking to The Associated Press, Braeden Fields, 19, said the incident was “mind-blowing” and insisted his cousin never showed signs that he would be involved in such a confrontation. 

Authorities said the breach happened around 1:30 am on Sunday, February 22, when Martin allegedly made an unauthorized entry through the resort’s north gate while another vehicle was exiting.

Family describes Austin Tucker Martin as quiet and generous

Fields repeatedly stressed that Martin was known among relatives as gentle and reserved. “He’s a good kid,” Fields told the outlet, adding, “I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing.”

The cousin also said Martin rarely spoke about political issues despite coming from a strongly pro-Trump household. “We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody,” Fields said, but noted his cousin was “real quiet, never really talked about anything.”

According to Fields, Martin also showed a generous side in everyday life. He said the 21-year-old would often donate money he earned while working at a local golf course to charity.

“He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun,” Fields added.

What authorities say happened at Mar-a-Lago

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that Martin was seen carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can during the early-morning breach.

Law enforcement officers confronted the suspect shortly after he entered the restricted area. Bradshaw said Martin was ordered to drop the items.

“He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him - at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw said. “At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.”

Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Trump, who frequently spends weekends at Mar-a-Lago, was at the White House at the time of the incident, authorities said.

Missing person report filed for Austin Tucker Martin minutes after breach

In a development that added another layer of tragedy, Martin’s family reported him missing shortly after the incident timeline began to unfold.

The Moore County Sheriff’s Office said the family filed a missing person report around 1:38 am on Sunday.

Neighbor Cindy Carlyle told WRAL News she saw Martin’s mother at a gas station while she was trying to report him missing. “She had no idea where he was,” Carlyle said. “She was very upset, and she just made the comment that she had gotten a text from him, you know, saying that, ‘I'm okay, I love you.’”

Her husband, Danny Carlyle, described the situation as heartbreaking and possibly preventable. “It's just like a nightmare ... things like this don't happen close to home,” he said.

No prior history with local authorities

Officials said the Moore County Sheriff’s Office had no prior history involving the 21-year-old.

The agency has since turned over the missing person case information to federal authorities as the investigation continues.