The White House has broken its silence after a man was shot dead after allegedly trying to break into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home armed with a shotgun and a gas cannister. According to the Secret Service, the incident happened at 1.30am local time (6.30am GMT) at the Florida estate.
The agency’s head of communications, Anthony Guglielmi, announced the news online: “On February 22, around 1.30am, a male in his early 20s was shot by US Secret Service agents and a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) following an unauthorised entry into the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago. The individual, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced deceased. The individual was observed by the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago property carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.
“US Secret Service agents and a PBSO deputy confronted the individual and shots were fired by law enforcement during the encounter. No US Secret Service or PBSO personnel were injured.
“There were no Secret Service protectees present at the location at the time of the incident.”
Now White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has spoken out on the incident, calling the man a “crazy person”.
Posting on X Leavitt said: “In the middle of the night while most Americans were asleep, the United States Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralise a crazy person, armed with a gun and a gas canister, who intruded President Trump’s home.
“Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It’s shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department.”
Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
During the attack, President Donald Trump was away from his Florida home and was instead in Washington on Sunday morning, where he and the First Lady Melania Trump, were hosting the Governor’s Dinner.
The man is thought to have breached the perimeter by heading through a gate as a car was leaving.
Rick Bradshaw, the sheriff of Palm Beach County, said an agent at the scene of the incident told the suspect to drop the shotgun and gasoline he was allegedly carrying.
He told reporters at the press conference: “Words that we said to him was, ‘Dropped the items’.” Shots were then fired by law enforcement, and the man was pronounced dead.
Little is known about the alleged perpetrator, but the Secret Service spokesman added that the suspect was in his early 20s and from North Carolina. He was reported missing a few days ago by his family.