(TJV NEWS) Austin Tucker Martin, 21, from North Carolina, was shot and killed by Secret Service and local police on Sunday after attempting to enter President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate while carrying a shotgun. Martin had been reported missing by his family just a day earlier.

According to TMZ, Martin exchanged a series of unusual text messages with a co-worker on February 15 in which he obsessively referenced the Epstein files. He wrote, “I don’t know if you read up on the Epstein Files, but evil is real and unmistakable,” and urged others to “tell other people about what you hear about the Epstein files and what the government is doing about it. Raise awareness.” His co-worker did not respond, and on the morning of his death, Martin messaged again asking, “Where are you?”

The New York Post reports that colleagues described Martin as deeply disturbed by what he perceived as a government cover-up allowing elites to evade accountability. Sources also said he expressed frustrations over economic struggles for young people, including attempts to organize a union at his country club for higher wages—efforts that ultimately failed.

Family members characterized the attack as out of character. One cousin said, “He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun.” Martin was reportedly a strong supporter of President Trump, along with most of his family.

At the time of the incident, the President and First Lady were at the White House.