LOS ANGELES — A journalist from Australia’s 9 News was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet by a law enforcement officer in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night, in what appears to be a direct hit captured on camera during live coverage of ongoing immigration-related protests.
Lauren Tomasi, U.S. correspondent for the Australian national broadcaster, was reporting from the front lines when chaos broke out as LAPD officers began dispersing demonstrators. In footage aired by 9 News and later shared widely on social media, Tomasi can be seen crying out in pain after an officer allegedly aims and fires directly at her.
“You just… shot the reporter,” someone can be heard shouting in the footage. Tomasi, visibly shaken but trying to remain calm, says, “I’m good, I’m good.”
“Rapidly Deteriorated”
Moments before the incident, Tomasi had been describing the sudden shift in tone on the streets:
“After hours of standing off, this situation has now rapidly deteriorated. The LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of L.A.”
The incident occurred during another night of intense demonstrations sparked by the Trump administration’s immigration raids and subsequent deployment of the National Guard and U.S. Marines to the city — a move widely condemned by local leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
9 News Responds
In a statement to The Daily Beast, 9 News said both Tomasi and her camera operator were safe and would continue their coverage.
“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests,” the network said. “It underscores the importance of their role in providing vital information to the public.”
The network emphasized that Tomasi was clearly identified as press, raising serious questions about the use of force against working journalists.
LAPD Yet to Review Footage
The Los Angeles Police Department told The Daily Beast that it was not yet aware of the video, stating that the department was still addressing the ongoing, fluid situation in downtown. No official investigation has been announced.
The department has come under scrutiny in recent days for its handling of protest response, including the use of “less-lethal” munitions like rubber bullets, which have previously caused serious injuries during crowd control.
Growing Tensions
Tensions in Los Angeles have continued to rise following the federal immigration raids that began last week. The weekend saw property damage, arrests, and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement — with much of the unrest concentrated near federal buildings downtown.
Sunday night marked a particularly volatile escalation, with journalists, legal observers, and medics increasingly caught in the crossfire.
Press Freedom Concerns
Civil liberties groups were quick to condemn the apparent targeting of a reporter. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for an immediate review of the incident.
“This is not an isolated mistake — it’s part of a broader pattern of disregard for press freedom during protests in the United States,” said CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch. “Journalists must be allowed to do their jobs without fear of harm from the very authorities tasked with protecting them.”
A Pattern Repeating?
This incident echoes previous protests in the U.S., including the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, where multiple journalists were injured or arrested while covering events on public streets. Press advocates have long raised alarms about the militarization of protest response and its chilling effect on journalism.
As protests continue, and law enforcement presence remains heavy in Los Angeles, newsrooms across the country are reevaluating how to protect their staff on assignment.
