The person who authorities stated breached the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago wielding a shotgun and a gasoline canister early Sunday had by no means proven an urge for food for lethal weapons nor proven a lot curiosity in politics — in reality, fairly the alternative, in line with his cousin.
Austin Tucker Martin was “very quiet” and inexperienced with weapons, his cousin Braeden Fields stated. Martin did, nevertheless, like golf programs, and labored on one, his cousin stated.
“He would not even know use a gun. He is by no means used a gun,” Fields instructed ABC station WTVD hours after Martin had been shot and killed whereas authorities say he was making an attempt to enter President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Seashore, Florida.
Trump was in Washington, D.C., on the time of the incident.
Braeden Fields, Austin Tucker Martin’s cousin, speaks to reporters on Feb. 22, 2026, in Moore County, North Carolina.
Patrick Priest/WTVD
“I am an enormous hunter, and I’ve, I’ve had him round weapons on a regular basis, and he is by no means used one. He will not, he don’t love them. He do not prefer it, it hurts his ears,” Fields stated of his cousin.
Although Martin has an older brother within the navy, his pursuits have been elsewhere, Fields stated.
“We took him to shoot weapons, however he will not contact them,” Fields stated. “The one gun he is used is a BB gun.”
As federal brokers raided the household’s woodsy property in North Carolina, Fields stated there had been no indication Martin would ever enterprise 700 miles south on any type of political campaign.
What’s extra, the household are “large Trump supporters,” Fields stated. “All of us. Everyone.”
Martin “by no means actually talked about — he did not wish to get into politics,” Fields stated.
“We grew up collectively, virtually,” Fields stated. “I by no means, I would not imagine that he would do one thing like this. Thoughts-blowing.”
Martin labored at a golf course getting it prepared for the season, Fields stated, and appreciated to ship his paychecks to charity.
A web site registered to Martin exhibits a fledgling penchant for watercolor and ink art work of golf programs. The corporate describes its deal with “bringing to life the hopeful feeling of being on a golf course.”
Martin’s household had reported him lacking early Sunday, in line with authorities. It was nearly precisely the timeframe wherein police say Martin breached Mar-a-Lago’s perimeter.
“On February 22, 2026, at roughly 1:38 a.m., a relative of 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin approached a deputy at an area enterprise and reported him lacking,” in line with the Moore County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Police in Florida stated the incident started at 1:30 a.m. when Mar-a-Lago safety “detected {that a} particular person had made his means into the inside perimeter.” After they went to research “they confronted a white male that was carried a gasoline can and a shotgun.”
Martin was entered right into a nationwide lacking individual database when his household reported him lacking, in line with the sheriff’s workplace. They have been then instructed by federal authorities they have been “conducting an energetic investigation in Florida involving Martin. At their request, the lacking individual case data has been turned over to federal investigators.”
Fields stated Martin’s mom is “torn aside” by what has occurred, and that he is already seen folks “bashing” his cousin throughout social media.
“If nobody actually knew him, you would not get him,” Fields stated. “He is a very good child.”
ABC Information’ Chris Looft, Gaby Vinick and Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
