While covering anti-Ice demonstrations in Los Angeles, an Australian reporter was hit with a rubber bullet.
Lauren Tomasi Hit by Rubber Bullet: A Shocking Moment in LA Protests
The world watched in shock as footage emerged of Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi being hit by a rubber bullet while reporting live from the heart of Los Angeles protests. The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, has become a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists on the frontlines.
"All journalists should be able to do their work safely," the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.
While covering demonstrations against immigration raids in Los Angeles, an Australian reporter was hit with a rubber bullet; the incident was captured on camera in real time.
On Sunday, protesters and US law enforcement, notably the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and national guard personnel, battled. They were demonstrating against Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.
Following the shooting death of Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for Nine News US, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement stating that "all journalists should be able to do their work safely."
She yelled in pain before the camera turned away. Tomasi was left sore but otherwise unharmed.
The Incident Unfolds
Lauren Tomasi, US correspondent for Australia’s Nine News, was reporting outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre in downtown Los Angeles as tensions escalated between police and protesters. The protests, sparked by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the unprecedented deployment of National Guard troops to the city, had drawn thousands to the streets.
Moments before the incident, Tomasi described the rapidly deteriorating situation:
“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 LA,” she said on air.
Almost immediately after her report, an LAPD officer could be seen raising a firearm and firing a nonlethal round at close range. The rubber bullet struck Lauren Tomasi in the leg, catching her and viewers off guard. The moment was captured live, with Tomasi crying out in pain and clutching her calf.