A Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden shot himself in the leg while escorting the former first lady through Philadelphia airport.
The agent shot himself in the leg just after 8.30am Friday in while on an assignment to protect Biden, a Secret Service spokesperson said.
He suffered a non-life-threatening injury after what the federal agency described as a ‘negligent discharge while handling a service weapon.’
Biden was not present at the time of the shooting and her movements were not impacted by the incident, the spokesperson added.
The officer is currently being evaluated at a nearby hospital and is in stable condition. No other injuries were reported.
‘The Secret Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility will be reviewing the facts and circumstances of this incident,’ Secret Service spokesperson Nate Herring said.
‘We are grateful for our law enforcement and public safety partners who provided medical assistance.’
The Daily Mail approached Biden’s spokesperson for comment, who referred us back to the Secret Service.
A Secret Service agent shot himself in the leg while escorting First Lady Jill Biden, seen in 2022, through Philadelphia International Airport on Friday morning
A federal law enforcement officer moves through Philadelphia Airport on Tuesday, March 24
A police cordon was in place outside of Terminal C at Philadelphia International Airport, by the American Airlines ticketing desk, KYW Radio reported.
Officers were seen surrounding a black Chevy Suburban inside the cordon. The vehicle’s trunk and front passenger-side door were left open.
A medic unit responded to the scene, but then left, followed by a police car.
Security at Philadelphia International Airport has been chaotic this week in wake of the partial government shutdown that has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay.
Multiple TSA checkpoints remained closed Friday as the airport worked to ‘optimize operations’, according to USA Today.
The security checkpoints at terminals A-West, F and C, where the shooting occurred, are reportedly closed.
Passengers can still fly through the impacted terminals but must pass through security at checkpoints in other terminals.
The lapse in government funding has left TSA working without pay since mid-February.
People wait in a TSA line at Philadelphia International Airport on Monday, March 23
The Senate moved to end a budget standoff early Friday and approved Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds to pay TSA agents, the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, among other agencies.
The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously without a roll call, next goes to the House, which could consider it today.
Although Speaker Mike Johnson said he would need to meet with his fellow Republicans first to determine the best way to proceed. Republicans are angry that the entire department was not funded.
With pressure mounting to resolve the 42-day stalemate over funding for Homeland Security, the endgame emerged in the final hours before TSA workers were to miss another paycheck Friday.
President Donald Trump said he would sign an order to immediately pay the TSA agents, saying he wanted to quickly stop the ‘Chaos at the Airports.’
The deal did not include any of the restraints Democrats have demanded as they sought to rein in the Republican president’s mass deportation agenda.
More than 300 TSA workers have quit and unscheduled absences have surged since the shutdown began, leading to extended travel delays and airports struggling to screen travelers.
The federal government began deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist in providing security.
The move drew sharp criticism from Democrats, rights activists and some Republicans, who warn ICE personnel are not trained for such work and that it risks escalating tensions in already stressed environments.
Trump, who promised on Thursday to pay airport security officers, previously said he would not sign a funding deal unless Congress also passes a contentious bill to overhaul how citizens register to vote in US elections.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
