Reporter sh.ot by police while filming LA riots
Chaos in LA: Journalist Hit During Protests
Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet while covering protests in Los Angeles on June 8. The protests erupted in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Tomasi, reporting for Nine News, was broadcasting live when the LAPD began firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
“You just f**king shot the reporter,” a bystander shouted after Tomasi was hit. She quickly assured those around her, saying, “I’m good.” Footage appears to show an officer aiming directly at her. Nine News later stated, “Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet… This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests.”
Violence Escalates
The protests began peacefully but swelled to thousands by afternoon. Fires were set near the Metropolitan Detention Centre, prompting the LAPD to declare an “unlawful assembly.” Officers on horseback used rubber bullets to break up crowds.
Outrage and Political Backlash
The incident drew criticism from Australian officials. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young demanded action: “The first thing [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese] must tell the president is to stop shooting at our journalists.”
Mayor Karen Bass urged calm: “Angelenos — do not take part in violence and chaos. Don’t give the administration what it wants.”
