A campaign event for Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Lucas Kunce took an unexpected turn when a journalist was injured by a stray bullet fragment at a shooting range.
At a Glance
- Television reporter Ryan Gamboa was injured by a bullet fragment at Lucas Kunce’s campaign event
- The incident occurred at Kunce’s private residence during a shooting range activity
- Kunce, the only person firing at the time, provided immediate first aid to Gamboa
- The event took place just two weeks before Election Day
- Polls show Kunce trailing behind Republican incumbent Josh Hawley
Unexpected Incident at Campaign Event
In a startling turn of events, a Missouri television reporter was injured by a stray bullet fragment during a campaign event for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce. The incident occurred at Kunce’s private residence, where a shooting range activity had been organized as part of the campaign. Ryan Gamboa, a reporter for KSHB-TV, was unexpectedly struck by a bullet fragment that ricocheted off a target.
The event, which took place just two weeks before Election Day, was attended by several individuals, including former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Kunce, who has been highlighting his military service throughout his campaign, was the lone marksman at the time of the incident.
Swift Response and First Aid
Following the incident, Kunce, a veteran who served 13 years in the Marines, quickly sprang into action to assist the injured journalist. Demonstrating his military training, Kunce used his belt to help stop the bleeding and applied gauze to Gamboa’s wound.
“The injured reporter, KSHB-TV’s Ryan Gamboa, suddenly began to bleed from his arm after being grazed by a fragment that bounced off of a shooting target,” KSHB 41 reported.
“Kunce, a veteran who served 13 years in the Marines, used his belt to help stop the bleeding and wrapped gauze around the injury.”
After receiving initial treatment, Gamboa was taken to a hospital for precautionary checks. The incident has raised questions about safety protocols at campaign events, particularly those involving firearms.
Campaign Challenges and Polling Statistics
The shooting range incident comes at a crucial time for Kunce’s campaign, as he faces an uphill battle against Republican incumbent Sen. Josh Hawley. Recent polls indicate that Kunce is trailing behind Hawley, with Emerson College Polling and The Hill showing Kunce at 40% support compared to his opponent.
Kunce has been actively campaigning, often featuring himself with a gun in advertisements to emphasize his military background. However, this recent incident may pose a setback to his efforts to connect with voters on issues of gun rights and safety.
As the election approaches, both the Kunce and Hawley campaigns have been contacted for comments regarding the incident. The response to this event could potentially impact voter perceptions in the final stretch of the campaign.
