A Secret Service special agent assigned to former first lady Jill Biden’s security detail was hospitalized Friday after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at Philadelphia International Airport.
The incident occurred shortly before 8:45 a.m. while the agent was on duty and handling a service weapon inside an unmarked Chevrolet SUV.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, the vehicle was located near the 1 PIA Way access point and the Pennsylvania Tower at the time of the discharge.
The agent suffered a non-life-threatening injury to the leg and was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in stable condition after receiving initial medical assistance at the airport. Former first lady Jill Biden was present at the airport during the time of the shooting but was not in the immediate vicinity and remained unharmed.
No other injuries were reported to bystanders or airport personnel, and the incident did not disrupt travel operations.
U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the discharge was accidental and stated that the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility will investigate the matter.
The incident follows recent public discussions regarding the high levels of strain on the agency’s workforce and protective details.
Jill Biden and her husband, former president Joe Biden, have returned to private life since leaving the White House in January 2025. On Wednesday, Jill Biden had attended the off-Broadway premiere of Public Charge, a new off-Broadway play written by her former chief of staff, Julissa Reynoso, CNN reported. Biden was photographed by Broadway World at the event.
Joe and Jill Biden largely split their time between their homes in Rehoboth Beach and Wilmington, Delaware.
The former president is now focused on establishing his presidential library and writing a memoir, while also undergoing treatment for a 2025 prostate cancer diagnosis.
Jill Biden has continued her career in education and advocacy, recently accepting a position as chair of the Milken Institute’s Women’s Health Network and preparing for the release of her own upcoming book.
Under the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, both Joe and Jill Biden receive lifetime Secret Service protection. This mandate ensures that all former presidents and their spouses are provided a security detail for the remainder of their lives unless they choose to decline it.
Children of former presidents are also entitled to protection, though by law this coverage typically expires once they reach 16 years of age.
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