Mar-A-Lago Armed Gunman Fixated On Epstein Files Week Before Shooting

[riversedge]

Source: tmz.com



By TMZ Staff Updated February 22, 2026 3:34 PM PST

................

Austin Tucker Martin sent a text message, obtained by TMZ, to a co-worker on February 15, 2026, that read, "I don't know if you read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable." He continued, "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."



................. Co-workers tell us he was deeply disturbed by what he believed was a government cover-up and often talked about powerful people "getting away with it."


At the same time, Austin was outspoken about his Christian faith and political views. We're told he regularly expressed support for Trump, telling colleagues as recently as late last year he believed Trump was a strong leader.

..............

Austin also tried to start a union at work to push for higher wages, but no one signed on. Outside of his job, he was a sketch artist attempting to sell drawings of local scenery and people around town.




Read more: https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/22/mar-a-lago-armed-man-shot-dead-texts-show-epstein-files-fixation/

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‪shauna‬ ‪@goldengateblond.bsky.social‬
· 2h
quelle surprise www.tmz.com/2026/02/22/m...

quelle surprise www.tmz.com/2026/02/22/m...

— shauna (@goldengateblond.bsky.social) 2026-02-22T22:20:13.796Z

[jmbar2]

1. I wish he'd done his research on the travel schedule

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

[Lovie777]

2. Sounds like he was in chaos...............

A Christian, supporter shithole, and was disturbed by the Epstein files.

[stopdiggin]

4. yep. another 'all over the map' - 'down the rabbit hole' conspiracy connoisseur

If you're looking for a coherent agenda or motivation with these people ...
Good luck with that.

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[hamsterjill]

5. Well said.

If you try to apply logic to these people, it doesn't work.

I'm wondering if the ones who have the really fervent belief that Trump has been sent by God typically are going to go off the rails when they come to realize that Trump is not who they thought he was. I'm guessing it would be pretty traumatic for someone like that. The person would have to already be a little "off" in some way in order to believe that about Trump. I know a few who do and they are nut cases. The trauma would be realizing that they've been misled.

[UpInArms]

3. Very conflicted

I guess his brain could not deal with the cognitive dissonance