JUST IN: Reporter Hit With Bullet Fragment During Campaign Event With Adam Kinzinger

A television reporter was struck by a bullet fragment while covering a campaign event on Tuesday for U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce, a Democrat who is challenging Senator Josh Hawley in Missouri. Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger — a former Republican who has since embraced Democrat candidates and talking points — was also present for the event.

The incident took place at a private residence north of Kansas City, according to a report from the Kansas City Star. Kinzinger and Kunce were target shooting at one of the property’s gun ranges when a bullet fragment appeared to have ricocheted off a target.

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Kunce was firing an AR-15 at the time, and was the only one shooting when the reporter was struck, the outlet noted.

Adam Kinzinger handles an AR the way a woman who’s never held a gun before handles an AR. Lean forward, you sissy. The recoil isn’t going to hurt you. Lucas Kunce might shoot you, but the recoil from your own rifle won’t hurt you. pic.twitter.com/NNfNCYMpkX

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 23, 2024

The scene after Josh Hawley's opponent @LucasKunceMO accidentally shot a reporter at an event with Adam Kinzinger pic.twitter.com/OMtVjJ6dYr

— Mike Berg (@MikeKBerg) October 23, 2024

The reporter, KSHB-TV’s Ryan Gamboa, immediately began to bleed from his arm after he was struck. Kunce then used his belt to wrap gauze around the reporter’s arm to help stop the bleeding. The wound was later wrapped with medical tape.

Thankfully, Gamboa avoided serious injury and was able to complete his coverage of the range event, the Kansas City Star reported.

Kunce, a Marine Corps veteran, has attempted to position himself as a pro-gun Democrat throughout the campaign cycle. He is facing a massive uphill battle in his effort to unseat Hawley, who is seeking his second term in the Senate. A recent poll from Emerson College found Hawley’s support at 51 percent compared to just 40 percent for Kunce.

The two traded jabs on social media shortly after the incident, with Hawley stating that his grandmother is better at handling a weapon than he is. Kunce responded with an out-of-context clip from the January 6 Capitol protests.

“While Kunce was busy shooting at reporters, Erin and I were traveling the state,” Hawley added in a follow-up tweet alongside a video of he and his family on the campaign trail.

My grandma is a better shot than Lucas Kunce pic.twitter.com/rSjnBTlWeh

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 23, 2024

“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,” the Missouri Democrat wrote in an X post of his own. 

“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.”

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

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