A 25-year-old former security contractor who once claimed ties to protective teams for high-profile federal events has been charged in the fatal shooting of his 22-year-old girlfriend in San Francisco’s Sunset District.
Nation Wood was arrested on March 26, 2026, one day after the shooting that killed Samantha “Sam” Emge on the evening of March 24. Police responded to a residence on 22nd Avenue around 10:43 p.m. and found Emge suffering from a single gunshot wound. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities charged Wood with involuntary manslaughter. According to multiple reports, Wood told investigators he was “dry-firing” — practicing trigger pulls on what he believed was an unloaded handgun — when the weapon discharged. The bullet reportedly traveled through a wall and struck Emge, who was in the shower or bathroom area at the time. He has pleaded not guilty.
Wood was initially booked into county jail but was later released on $300,000 bail with conditions including electronic monitoring, a no-weapons order, and surrender of his passport. He appeared in court via Zoom from a psychiatric facility following the incident. The case remains under active investigation by San Francisco police and the District Attorney’s office.
On his LinkedIn profile, Wood described himself as an independent pre-event site security advisor. He claimed to have begun part-time security work with protective teams associated with then-President Joe Biden in November 2023 and continued similar duties into 2025 under President Donald Trump. His profile stated he performed advance site assessments, walkthroughs, and coordination alongside the United States Secret Service for events with high-profile attendees. However, a Secret Service spokesperson has confirmed that Wood was never employed by the agency, and authorities have not indicated any official federal affiliation.
Wood graduated from San Francisco State University in 2024 (or 2025 per some accounts) with a degree in political science and government. He also listed prior experience as a property manager at a self-storage facility.
Social media images shared by Wood showed him posing with former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, in front of a presidential aircraft during a 2024 event tied to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. In the post, he referenced assisting with security planning for the visit.
Emge, also a recent San Francisco State University graduate (class of 2025), worked in interior design. Friends and family described her as a vibrant young woman with a passion for design and adventure. Photos posted online captured the couple together on several occasions, including a trip to Yosemite National Park shortly after her graduation. The pair had been in a relationship for about two and a half years, with some reports noting it was sometimes rocky. Following her death, friends and loved ones flooded her social media with tributes expressing profound grief.
District Supervisor Alan Wong, whose district includes the Sunset area, commented early in the investigation that available information suggested the shooting may not have been intentional. Emge’s family, however, has expressed dissatisfaction with the initial “accidental” narrative and called for a thorough probe, citing concerns about the couple’s relationship.
As of early April 2026, Wood remained out of custody under court-ordered conditions while the investigation continues. The tragedy has drawn attention due to Wood’s self-described security background and public photos with political figures, though officials emphasize no evidence links the incident to his claimed professional activities.
