Secret Service Agent Accidentally Discharges Weapon, Sustains Injury: Report

In an unfortunate mishap that occurred last week, a Secret Service agent guarding former First Lady Jill Biden accidentally discharged his firearm, resulting in a self-inflicted injury. Contrary to initial reports that described the wound as being to the leg, it has since emerged that the agent actually shot himself in the buttocks.

This incident took place at the Philadelphia International Airport, where the agent suffered what has been termed a “negligent discharge.” Thankfully, the injury was not life-threatening. Susan Crabtree, a reporter for RealClearPolitics, shared details of the incident on social media platform X, noting that the mishap occurred when the agent attempted to holster his weapon.

Responding to inquiries about Crabtree’s report, a spokesman for the Secret Service confirmed to The Post that the injury was indeed an unintentional, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the agent’s hip area. However, the spokesperson clarified that another claim made in Crabtree’s report—that the agent was using a flashlight attached to his firearm to find a misplaced cell phone—was not corroborated by reports from the scene.

“When he tried to holster his gun, he shot himself – yes, right in the butt cheek,” RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree wrote on X.   

Asked about Crabtree’s reporting, a Secret Service spokesman told The Post: “It is accurate that the agent suffered an unintentional, self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hip area.” 

The spokesman noted that an additional claim reported by Crabtree – that the agent was using a flashlight on his firearm to search for a misplaced cell phone – was “not what was reported to us from the scene.” 

Philadelphia police told CBS Philadelphia that the gun went off while the agent was in an unmarked Chevrolet SUV.  

Biden was not present at the time of the incident, which did not impact the former first lady’s movements, the agency said last Friday. 

No other injuries were reported. 

The incident is being investigated by the Secret Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

The Secret Service declined to comment on the specifics of the probe, fearing it “could compromise future interviews.”