A text message from Jay Jones to Del. Carrie Coyner. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Everytown for Gun Safety endorsed Jones in June.
"Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones are committed gun sense champions, and we’re proud to endorse them today," John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a press release at the time.
"Preventing gun violence is a winning issue in Virginia, and Everytown will go all out to make sure voters know which candidates are making public safety a top priority."
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (C), marches in the 54th Annual Buena Vista Labor Day Festival parade with Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Jones has since apologized, calling the remarks "embarrassing and shameful," and said he had reached out personally to Gilbert and his family.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Jones campaign for comment.
Spanberger, running for governor in one of the most closely watched races in the country, condemned Jones' messages but stopped short of calling on him to withdraw from the race.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gun-control-group-gave-six-figure-donation-dem-candidate-who-fantasized-about-shooting-gop-lawmaker