Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, a reporter with Nine News, was hit by a rubber bullet while covering the Los Angeles protests on Sunday night. The dramatic moment was captured on camera as Tomasi clutched her leg in pain, having been shot by a police officer who appeared to be aiming directly at her and her camera operator.
A bystander witnessing the incident shouted in anger, “You just shot the f—— reporter!”, as Tomasi screamed and held her calf. Despite the injury, she quickly moved to safety with her cameraman and told concerned witnesses, “I’m good.”
Journalist Shares First-Hand Account Online
Though she hasn’t released a formal statement, Tomasi shared an update on X, documenting the intense scene. She wrote, “8 pm. Dozens of police have just moved in. Another attempt to move people on. Flash bang grenades then fireworks going off.”
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Australian journalist shot by U.S. police—caught on live camera. Yet, the West DS funded propaganda dares to lecture India on press freedom, citing biased, Western-funded “indexes.” pic.twitter.com/aMX0802E4w
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 9, 2025
Nine News later confirmed in a statement that both Tomasi and her camera operator were safe and continuing their reporting duties. “This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information,” the statement read, according to The Guardian.
Protests Escalate Amid Federal Deployment Orders
The protests in Los Angeles intensified after President Donald Trump ordered federal control of the California National Guard, a move Governor Gavin Newsom condemned as “purposefully inflammatory.” It marked one of the most significant federal interventions in California in decades.
The LAPD declared downtown Los Angeles an “unlawful assembly”, posting warnings on X for demonstrators to vacate the area immediately. Meanwhile, Trump issued orders for the immediate arrest of masked protesters, while law enforcement patrolled streets on horseback and guarded federal buildings in riot gear.
The unrest follows two days of violent clashes, where federal forces deployed flash-bang grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds protesting the recent arrest of migrants in a city known for its large Latino population.
