Reporter Gets Hit With Shrapnel At Democrat Candidate’s Campaign Event At Gun Range

A Kansas City news reporter was hit by shrapnel while covering Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce’s campaign event at a gun range.

While Kunce fired an AR-15 at a close metal target, a piece of shrapnel ricocheted off the target and hit reporter Ryan Gamboa.

Gamboa started to bleed instantly, and Kunce and other staffers quickly administered medical attention.

The injuries to Gamboa were minor, and he was taken to the hospital, where he was later released.

In response to the incident, Republican incumbent Sen. Josh Hawley, who is running against Kunce, shared, “I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and call on Kunce to never shoot another one.”

BREAKING: Missouri U.S. Senate Candidate Lucas Kunce SHOOTS A Reporter With An AR-15 At A Campaign Event

Who else was there? Well it was cry baby @AdamKinzinger

You can’t make this up.

I live in Missouri and this fake alpha is running against @HawleyMO for U.S. Senator of… pic.twitter.com/r063iYmtoJ

— MAGA White Rabbit Jedi🇺🇸 (@WhiteRabbitJedi) October 23, 2024

Kunce says he’s “PROUD” after shooting a reporter 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/o5IVJdOgoF

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 23, 2024

I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and call on Kunce never to shoot another one 😂😂😂

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 23, 2024

Per KOMU 8:

A Kansas City TV news reporter was hit by a piece of shrapnel Tuesday at a campaign event for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce.

According to NBC affiliate KSHB, reporter Ryan Gamboa was covering the event at a gun range near Kansas City.

Kunce was firing an AR-15 style weapon at the time Gamboa was struck. A piece of shrapnel ricocheted off a metal target and hit the reporter’s arm. Kunce was later seen wrapping a bandage around Gamboa’s injured arm.

“Always have your first aid kit handy. You never know what’s going to happen,” Kunce said later in a news release. “Shrapnel can always bounce off of anything and you’ve got to be ready to go. We had four first aid kits here, and I’m pretty proud of that. We were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting.”

KSHB reports Gamboa’s injuries were minor and he was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

Republican incumbent Josh Hawley responded to the incident with a post on social media platform X, saying “I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and call on Kunce to never shoot another one.”

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. We had four first… pic.twitter.com/Qu4YxfrtrU

— Lucas Kunce (@LucasKunceMO) October 23, 2024

Per Newsweek:

TV news reporter was struck by a bullet fragment Tuesday at a shooting range during a campaign event for a Democratic senate candidate, who administered first aid to the journalist.

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Missouri senate candidate Lucas Kunce was at a private residence near Holt, north of Kansas City, with former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger when the incident occurred, The Kansas City Star reported.

The Democrat was shooting an AR-15 at the time when a bullet fragment appeared to have ricocheted off a target and injured the reporter, KSHB-TV’s Ryan Gamboa. Kunce was the only person shooting when the injury occurred, according to the outlet.