A journalist was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet by a law enforcement officer in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night, her employer, 9 News Australia, reported. In footage shared by the Australian national news service, U.S. correspondent Lauren Tomasi cries out in pain after an officer appears to point directly at her and shoot. “You just… shot the reporter,” someone shouts immediately afterwards, according to a caption. “I’m good, I’m good,” Tomasi can be heard shrieking. The journalist had been reporting that “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.” In a statement provided to The Daily Beast, a 9 News spokesperson said “Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events,” adding that the “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.“ Reached for comment by The Daily Beast, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said the LAPD was not aware of the video and said it was still dealing with the evolving situation in the city. Clashes between law enforcement and protesters intensified on Sunday after the Trump administration deployed the National Guard and sent in troops in what local leaders called a dramatic and unnecessary escalation. The protests broke out over federal immigration raids last week.
U.S. Correspondent Lauren Tomasi has been caught in the crossfire as the LAPD fired rubber bullets at protesters in the heart of Los Angeles. #9News
LATEST: https://t.co/l5w7JxixxB pic.twitter.com/nvQ7m9TGLj— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 9, 2025
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