A former security official from the Biden administration has entered a not guilty plea for manslaughter related to the death of a young woman in San Francisco, likely due to mishandling of a firearm.
Nation Wood, 25, faced charges on Friday after allegedly shooting his girlfriend, Samantha Emge, 22, at their residence in the Sunset neighborhood during the night.
Wood served as an advance security officer, providing security assessments for events with VIPs starting in November 2023. His LinkedIn profile, now removed, indicated he collaborated with Biden’s Secret Service.
Reports suggest that Wood’s profile included a photo of him next to a jet with Vice President Kamala Harris and others.
Police responded to a shooting report on Tuesday night and found Emge with a gunshot wound. She was taken to a nearby hospital but unfortunately didn’t survive.
The initial investigation hints that the gun might not have been fired intentionally, as noted by reporting from Fox 2. Doug Welch, representing Wood, remarked that it seems like a tragic accident.
During the arraignment, Welch requested Wood’s release citing his lack of a criminal record and his presence at the scene urging for help following the incident. “From the start, Mr. Wood was merely asking Emge for assistance,” he stated, adding that Wood was fully cooperative with law enforcement.
However, the court set Wood’s bail at $300,000, considering him a “flight risk” as he intended to depart for National Guard service.
Emge was a graduate of San Francisco State University and worked in interior design, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was Wood’s girlfriend, with their social media showing them together on multiple occasions, including a trip to Yosemite National Park.
A spokesperson clarified that Wood was never a Secret Service agent.
