Ex‑White House Security Staffer Makes Shocking Revelation After Fatally Shooting Girlfriend in Apartment

A former White House security staffer has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend. 25-year-old Nation Wood was taken into custody in San Francisco on March 25 on the accusation of shooting 22-year-old Samantha Emge inside their Sunset District apartment.

The tragedy took place on the night of March 24, when police responded to the report of a shooting at a residence on 22nd Avenue. San Francisco Police Department officers found Emge suffering from a gunshot wound around. She was rushed to a hospital, but could not survive the injury.

Wood told the police that he was dry-firing his weapon at home when he accidentally fired a shot. He did not realize that the gun was loaded. The bullet pierced through a wall and hit Emge, who was taking a shower in the bathroom.

Wood and Emge shared the apartment and were in a relationship. Though it is unclear when they began dating, they had been posting pictures with each other on social media since early 2024. Following the incident, Wood was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Investigators believe he murdered his girlfriend without malice. He was arraigned on March 27 in the presence of his, as well as Emge’s, family. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Christopher Hu has set his bail at $300,000, and his next hearing is scheduled for April 1. If released on bail, Wood will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

The accused faces upto four years in prison if he is found guilty. Talking about the charge, legal expert Steven Clark said in a statement to NBC Bay Area, “It’s very much a cautionary tale that if you mishandle a firearm and someone is killed, you can go to prison even if it’s a tragic accident.”

“Involuntary manslaughter carries the maximum of four years in state prison, but if the DA files an additional enhancement, such as use of a firearm, that could make a person’s sentence even longer,” Clark added.

Wood began working as a part-time security staffer at the White House during Joe Biden’s presidency in 2023. He continued to work with the Secret Service till July 2025. During that time, he met some influential personalities, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Wood graduated from San Francisco State University with a specialization in Political Science and Government in 2024. He currently works as an independent pre-event site security advisor.

Emge also attended San Francisco State University and graduated in 2025. Before her death, she served as a design assistant at Chantal Lamberto Interior Design. According to District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, the investigation is still in the initial stage, and more details about the shooting will come out as the probe continues.

“This is a very fresh investigation. While I understand some facts have come out, we are just beginning to determine everything that took place in that apartment that night,” Jenkins said in a statement.