TV reporter hit by shrapnel at Lucas Kunce's election campaign rally | National News

A Kansas City television reporter was hit by shrapnel at a campaign rally for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce on Tuesday.

According to NBC affiliate KSHB, reporter Ryan Gamboa covered the event at a shooting range near Kansas City.

When Gamboa was hit, Kunce fired an AR-15-style weapon. A piece of shrapnel ricocheted off a metal target and hit the reporter's arm. Kunce was later seen putting a bandage on Gamboa's injured arm.

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

KSHB reports that 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 one again.”