Hernandez: Staffer’s Car Struck by Bullet Outside Tucson Congressional Candidate’s Residence

Daniel Hernandez, a Democratic congressional candidate from Tucson, reported a disturbing incident involving gunfire near his home. A bullet shattered the window of a campaign staffer’s car, prompting an investigation by the Tucson Police Department.

The shooting, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, left no injuries but raised serious concerns. Hernandez noted that the car window was intact as of 1:30 p.m. and shattered by around 4 p.m. when a passerby alerted him about the damage.

“We don’t know what the reason was for it,” Hernandez stated during a press conference. “We’re still working and waiting on TPD to give us more information.” He indicated that no shots were heard within the home at the time of the incident.

Photos shared by Hernandez’s campaign revealed a bullet, believed to be from a 9mm firearm, resting on the driver’s seat amidst shattered glass. The other window of the vehicle remained intact, indicating a peculiar trajectory. When asked about additional evidence, such as bullet casings, Hernandez refrained from commenting.

The Tucson Police’s public information office did not respond to inquiries on Friday, but sources suggested that the incident might have been a random occurrence, possibly a stray bullet from a distance, considering the low velocity of the projectile.

Hernandez explained his current living situation, sharing that he has been residing with his sister—a noted state lawmaker—due to safety concerns following numerous death threats she received linked to her advocacy for Israel amid ongoing Middle East tensions. “There’s no room in our politics or in our discourse for violence,” he emphasized.

In light of this incident, Hernandez announced plans to relocate his campaign operations. He is competing in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the late U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva, who passed away on March 13.

Hernandez, a former school board member and Arizona state legislator, has a notable political background. He first gained public attention at age 20, intervening to assist then-Representative Gabrielle Giffords during a tragic mass shooting in 2011.

His political journey includes two terms on the Sunnyside School Board and three terms in the Arizona House of Representatives. After an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2022, where he lost the Democratic primary to Kirsten Engel, he now seeks to establish himself as a prominent figure in Arizona’s political landscape.