SHOTS FIRED At Campaign Event – Reporter Hit With Bullet

On Tuesday, a television reporter was struck by a bullet fragment while covering a campaign event for Lucas Kunce, a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate against Missouri's incumbent senator, Josh Hawley. Adam Kinzinger, a former U.S. representative who was previously a Republican but has recently aligned with Democratic views, was also present at the event.

The incident occurred on private property north of Kansas City, as reported by the Kansas City Star. Kinzinger and Kunce were at a gun range on the property, practicing target shooting when a bullet fragment apparently ricocheted off a target.

The news outlet noted that Kunce was the only one firing at the time the reporter was struck, and he was using an AR-15 pistol.

Ryan Gamboa, a reporter from KSHB-TV, began bleeding from his arm almost immediately after being hit. Kunce quickly used his belt to tie gauze around Gamboa's arm in an attempt to control the bleeding. The wound was later secured with medical tape.

Gamboa was fortunate to avoid serious injury and was able to finish reporting on the event at the range, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kunce, a Marine Corps veteran, has framed himself as a Democrat who supports gun rights throughout his campaign. However, his bid to unseat Hawley, who is seeking a second Senate term, presents a significant challenge. A recent Emerson College poll showed Hawley with 51% of the vote, compared to Kunce’s 40%.

Following the incident, the two candidates exchanged sharp words on social media, with Hawley quipping that his grandmother was better with a gun than Kunce. Kunce responded by sharing a video from the January 6 Capitol protests, though it was reportedly taken out of context.

Hawley later tweeted a video of himself and his family on the campaign trail, remarking, "Erin and I were traveling the state while Kunce was busy shooting at reporters."

Kunce also addressed the event in a post on X, stating, "Great day at the range today with my friend @AdamKinzinger. We got to hang out with some union workers while exercising our freedom. Always have your first aid kit handy. Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today, and you’ve got to be ready to go."

He added, “We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting.”