Absolutely on-target (;{J) - placement is critical.
Not counting battlefield engagements, the "wimpy" .22 has probably killed more people with one shot than any other caliber.
No newswriter is going to play down injuries with a word like, "grazed" when sexy words like "struck", "wounded", "casualty", "impact" help pump up the readers' vicarious thrill.
I remember from the reports that Fuller walked (walked!) out of the engagement area.
Not only will reporters prefer to use the punchy language: they will be sure from now on to use prose that amplifies the heroism and toughness of their new found spokesman.