When was Austin Tucker Martin reported missing? The timeline before the Mar-a-Lago shooting

Austin Tucker Martin, the 21-year-old man who was shot and killed after attempting to breach the secure perimeter of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, had reportedly been reported missing by his family several days before the deadly encounter.

Family Reported Him Missing Days Before the Shooting

According to social media posts shared by conservative commentator Laura LoomerMartin’s relatives publicly posted that he had not been heard from since the evening before. In one Facebook post believed to be from his aunt, his family said he left home around 1:00 p.m. and had not made contact since about 7:51 p.m. The post described his disappearance as out of character, prompting them to contact local police and the FBI to help locate him.

A missing person flyer that circulated online noted that Martin was last seen on February 21 and that he lived in the Carthage, North Carolina area. It also included details like his vehicle — a silver 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan — and his approximate height of six feet.

NEW:

It appears a man named Austin Tucker Martin was also reported missing by his family in North Carolina yesterday according to posts I found on Facebook. His aunt said on Facebook his family contacted the FBI to report him missing….

Is this the same Austin Tucker Martin who… pic.twitter.com/fJ6TunGW9C

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) February 22, 2026

Report Filed in North Carolina

Martin was reportedly declared missing by his family in North Carolina a few days before the Mar-a-Lago shooting. Law enforcement in the area was alerted as soon as his relatives realized he had not returned or contacted anyone. Authorities in North Carolina began searching, and the FBI was reportedly informed as part of efforts to locate him after the missing person report was filed.

What Happened After He Was Reported Missing?

Investigators believe that after leaving North Carolina, Martin traveled south in the days before the incident in Florida. It is believed he obtained a shotgun while on the way to Mar-a-Lago, although officials have not fully confirmed where or how he acquired the weapon.

Law enforcement sources say the missing person reports helped investigators piece together Martin’s movements as they worked to understand his route and actions in the days leading up to the confrontation at the Mar-a-Lago security perimeter.

The Mar-a-Lago Shooting

The shooting took place in the early hours of February 22, 2026when Martin approached the north gate of the Mar-a-Lago estate around 1:30 a.m. carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a red fuel canister. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy confronted him, and he was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.