Aussie Reporter Down! Shocking Police Action at LA Protest.

Australian Journalist Shot with Nonlethal Bullet While Reporting on LA Protests

The weekend's protests in Los Angeles, sparked by immigration enforcement operations, took a concerning turn when Lauren Tomasi, a U.S. national correspondent for Australia's 9News, was struck by a rubber bullet fired by a police officer. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, June 8th, has raised questions about the safety of journalists covering demonstrations.

According to 9News, Tomasi was reporting on the protests when the incident unfolded. A video captured by the network clearly shows a police officer aiming a weapon in her direction before firing. The rubber bullet hit Tomasi in the back of her left leg. Audio from the video captures her audible cry of pain as the camera moves away. Fortunately, 9News reports that while sore, Tomasi was otherwise unharmed.

The incident occurred amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions in Los Angeles. Here's a breakdown of the situation:

• Thousands gathered: Protests began on Friday, June 6th, in response to President Trump's immigration enforcement operations.
• Escalating demonstrations: Small protests grew into larger demonstrations, with some resulting in clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
• National Guard Deployment: Local police were supplemented by hundreds of National Guard troops over the weekend.
• "Unlawful Assemblies": Authorities declared several demonstrations as "unlawful assemblies" and deployed flash bang grenades and tear gas.
• Infrastructure Impact: Protesters blocked California's 101 Freeway, and several vehicles were set ablaze.

Prior to being shot, Tomasi had already experienced a tense situation. Approximately an hour before the shooting, she was caught in a group of protesters during a live shot. Exploding flashbang grenades could be heard in the background as protesters began yelling at her and grabbing at her camera.

The protests have also become a point of contention between political figures. President Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom have exchanged words regarding the handling of the situation and the deployment of the National Guard.

Newsom accused Trump of "manufacturing chaos and violence" through the deployment of troops, stating in a post on X:

"Let’s get this straight: 1) Local law enforcement didn’t need help. 2) Trump sent troops anyway − to manufacture chaos and violence. 3) Trump succeeded," Newsom said in a X post. "4) Now things are destabilized and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump’s mess."

Trump, on the other hand, criticized Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a Truth Social post on June 8th, accusing them of doing an "absolutely horrible job" and referring to the protesters as "troublemakers and insurrectionists."

This incident underscores the dangers journalists face while reporting on protests and civil unrest. It is crucial that law enforcement agencies take every precaution to ensure the safety of members of the press who are working to inform the public. The ability of journalists to freely report on events without fear of harm is essential to a functioning democracy. We can only hope that measures are taken to prevent similar events from happening in the future.

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/06/09/australian-journalist-shot-los-angeles-protests/84115223007/