Flying metal from Missouri Democratic Senate candidate's rifle grazes reporters at campaign rally

A Missouri reporter was slightly injured Tuesday when a rifle fired by a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate during a campaign rally resulted in metal fragments hitting the journalist in the arm.

The KSHB-TV reporter was hit in the arm by flying metal Lucas Kuncea Marine, fired an AR-15 rifle at targets in a suburban home in Kansas City.

Kunce administered first aid to the reporter who continued to cover the event. The Kansas City television station reported The journalist was later treated at a local hospital for a minor injury.

“We had four first aid kits so we were able to take control of the situation,” Kunce posted Tuesday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. He added that he was glad the reporter was okay.

Kunce is trying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley next month.

Tuesday's shooting appears to have been designed to appeal to moderate and Republican voters in a state now marked by Republican political dominance and their strong belief in gun rights. Such events are now becoming more and more common Tactics of some Missouri Democrats.

No Democrat holds statewide office. Kunce's rival Hawley, repressed former Democratic senator Senator Claire McCaskill in 2018.

On the national level, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris has not shied away Weaponseither. Last month she told Oprah Winfrey that she had a gun and was prepared to shoot intruders.

Kunce later wrote on social media that he had a “great day at the range” with former Illinois U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican.

“We were able to spend time with some union members while exercising our freedom,” Kunce wrote in the post, which also referenced the accidental shooting.

Hawley, for his part, responded to the accident jokingly.

“I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and urge Kunce to never shoot one again,” he wrote on X, ending the post with several laughing emojis.

This is Kunce's second bid for the U.S. Senate. He lost the Democratic primary in 2022 to beer heiress Trudy Busch Valentine, who later lost to the current senator. Eric Schmitt, a Republican, in the general election.