A staff member from the Biden administration, accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend, is now under scrutiny as troubling details about their relationship emerge, according to the victim’s grieving father.

Nation Wood, 25, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter following the death of Samantha Emge, 22, who was shot in their San Francisco apartment on March 24.

Wood told authorities that he was “dry-firing” his gun, mistakenly believing it was unloaded, when it discharged accidentally. However, Emge’s father, Bill Phipps, has revealed allegations of a history of abuse within their relationship.

“Their relationship was troubled, and he was abusive,” Phipps shared with the California Post. “Samantha had been trying to end things with him for quite some time.”

Phipps further alleged that Wood had been both emotionally and physically abusive toward his daughter, making it difficult for her to leave the relationship.

Emge had reportedly organized an intervention, urging Wood to seek sobriety, and had previously moved out of their shared living situation due to his alleged abusive actions.

Wood recently joined the National Guard and was expected to leave for basic training just two weeks after the fatal shooting, Phipps told the newspaper.

‘All of her friends were constantly trying to tell her she should break up with him,’ Phipps added, noting that Emge had been ‘looking forward to him going away.’

Samantha Emge, 22, was shot dead on March 24 at the San Francisco apartment that she shared with her boyfriend Nation Wood

Wood told police he was ‘dry-firing’ his pistol, which he believed had been unloaded, when it accidentally fired

Police found Emge with gunshot wounds inside the apartment at 10.43pm on March 23, the district attorney’s office said. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she later died.

The aspiring interior designer had just gotten out of the shower when Wood allegedly fired his pistol into the bathroom wall, according to a police report obtained by the Post.

Emge had only moved into Wood’s apartment a few days before her death, Phipps claimed. She was going to live in the unit while he was away. 

Phipps told the Post that the couple previously lived together in a shared home with roommates, but claimed she moved out because she ‘couldn’t tolerate his behavior’.

It is unclear exactly when that alleged cohabitation occurred. 

Two of Emge’s friends have echoed Phipps’ accusations of abuse, telling the San Francisco Chronicle how he would yell at her during drunken episodes.

They also accused him of making racist and homophobic comments.

Her friends further alleged that Wood was controlling, citing how he frequently called and texted her demanding details about her whereabouts. 

He also allegedly imposed a 10pm curfew for her, even when they lived separately, her friends added.

Nation Wood, 25, a former security staffer for President Joe Biden, has been charged with allegedly shooting and killing his girlfriend in San Francisco

During his time working with the White House, Wood (second from right) shared a picture of himself posing alongside Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff in front of a presidential jet in 2024

Wood’s attorney Paula Canny, however, has portrayed their two-and-a-half-year-long relationship as one in which the pair were deeply in love.

‘Samantha told Nation’s family how much she loved Nation and how much she loved being a part of their family,’ Canny told the newspaper. ‘Nation’s family is devastated by this tragedy and their hearts go out to Samantha’s family and loved ones.’ 

The lawyer confirmed Phipps was 16 months sober at the time of the shooting and alleged he has been ‘suicidal’ since Emge’s death.

Wood was charged with involuntary manslaughter soon after the shooting. He pled not guilty and has since been released to a psychiatric hospital in San Francisco on a $300,000 bond. 

According to Wood’s LinkedIn page, he previously worked as a part-time security staffer for President Joe Biden’s White House security team starting in November 2023. 

The US Secret Service told the Daily Mail that he was not a member of the Secret Service. 

He described his work as an ‘independent pre-event site security advisor’ at the White House for almost two years before leaving in July 2025, leaving under President Donald Trump. 

During his time working with the White House, Wood shared a picture of himself posing alongside Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff in front of a presidential jet in 2024. 

Wood wrote on his LinkedIn page that in his capacity at the White House, he was providing ‘external advisory site security assessments for events with VIP attendance.’

Emge was a recent graduate of San Francisco State University and worked in interior design

‘Experience includes site walkthroughs and advance coordination alongside US Secret Service for senior government and high-net-worth principals,’ Wood wrote on his profile. 

In his picture with Harris and Emhoff, he said he was ‘very grateful’ for the opportunity to work with the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee on a trip to an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation event in San Francisco. 

Emge was a recent graduate of San Francisco State University and worked in interior design.

The Daily Mail has approached Wood’s attorney for comment.