An ABC TV station was struck by gunfire on Friday afternoon, just a day after protesters congregated outside, expressing their discontent with the network’s decision to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the air.
Police say the broadcasting station in Sacramento, California, was struck by at least three bullets in what they’re calling a drive-by shooting.
No injuries were reported, but bullets penetrated a window facing the street, with people present inside the building during the incident, according to Sacramento Police.
“We haven’t had many attacks on our media partners, and we’d like to keep it that way,” stated Officer Anthony Gamble of the Sacramento Police Department.
“To those who may have been responsible for this, and I hope you see this, we’re not going to cease our search for you. This behavior is unacceptable. It won’t be tolerated in Sacramento,” he added.
The gunfire was reported around 1:30 p.m., just 24 hours after around 15 people gathered outside ABC10 (KXTV) to protest the suspension of Kimmel.
Authorities are investigating whether the shooting was random or targeted, though police have not released a motive or any suspect information.
‘All of our employees are safe and unharmed,’ Tegna, KXTV’s parent company, spokesperson Molly McMahon said.
Police say the broadcasting station in Sacramento was struck by at least three bullets in what they’re calling a drive-by shooting
The gunfire was reported around 1:30 p.m., just 24 hours after approximately 15 individuals assembled outside ABC10 (KXTV) (pictured) to protest ABC’s sudden suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.
‘We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and have taken additional measures to ensure the continued safety of our employees.’
Police detectives remained at the scene Friday afternoon.
The shooting is part of a week-long controversy following Kimmel’s comments on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event in Orem, Utah.
In a monologue Monday night, Kimmel made a joke that drew immediate backlash from conservative media figures and Republican officials, including FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who was appointed by President Trump.
Carr warned in an interview that ‘we can do this the easy way or the hard way,’ in what some Democratic lawmakers are now calling a ‘corrupt abuse of power.’
Kimmel said the ‘MAGA gang desperately [is] trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.’
The suspected shooter has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was raised in a strictly Republican household.
He was living with his transgender partner at the time of the attack. Relatives said he had become ‘more political’ in recent times.
Protestors had gathered outside of the station on Thursday to protest Kimmel being suspended from the air
In a monologue Monday night, Jimmy Kimmel (pictured) made a joke that drew immediate backlash from conservative media figures and Republican officials, ultimately resulting in the suspension of his late night show
Demonstrators protest the suspension of the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ show outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre where the show is performed on September 18, 2025
Despite this, Kimmel reportedly told bosses he intended to address President Donald Trump’s avid supporters on his next episode, simultaneously calling them out and clarifying what he was initially trying to say on air.
He then learned on a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that his 22-year-run in the late night timeslot was being canned – at least for now.
ABC then announced the show would be ‘pre-empted indefinitely,’ sparking outrage from Democratic leaders and Kimmel supporters, who say the network caved to political pressure.
Disney, who own ABC, feared that his comments could be taken as an act of doubling down, which would further inflame tensions with conservative voters, Deadline reported.
Shortly after ABC announced Kimmel had been suspended, Trump said: ‘The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.
‘Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.’
Friends say the comedian is ‘angry but unbowed’ and feels Disney caved to political pressure. After the announcement, a source told The Daily Mail that Kimmel ‘feels betrayed.’
‘Jimmy has always pushed boundaries, that’s what his audience expects,’ the insider revealed. ‘The idea that one comment could sideline him after everything he’s given ABC — he’s gutted, but he’s not sorry.’
As of now, police have made no arrests in connection with Friday’s shooting.
