Chaos in the streets of Los Angeles took a disturbing turn for the media over the weekend, as 9News U.S. correspondent Lauren Tomasi was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while covering escalating protests downtown. The incident marks the second known injury to a foreign journalist in the city in just three days.
Tomasi, who was reporting live from outside the Metropolitan Detention Center on Sunday, was hit moments after concluding a live cross to Australian audiences. According to footage and eyewitness accounts, a police officer whose department has not been confirmed — appeared to aim and fire directly at Tomasi from close range, striking her in the leg.
In a post to social media platform X shortly after the incident, Tomasi assured concerned viewers:
During the 9News evening bulletin, Tomasi added:“This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents. It has been a really volatile day on the streets of Los Angeles.”
This latest incident underlines the growing dangers faced by journalists reporting from protest zones, particularly in the U.S., where civil unrest is increasingly met with aggressive policing tactics. While it remains unclear if the shot was fired by an LAPD officer or another force deployed to control the protests, the Los Angeles Police Department declined to comment on the specific incident when contacted by the New York Times.
Tomasi’s camera operator, Jimmy, was unharmed. Both were able to exit the scene safely despite having already been caught in a previous confrontation, in which a protester grabbed their camera during a separate live report.
The shooting has prompted swift responses from Australian officials and press freedom advocates. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement supporting Tomasi and calling for the protection of journalists globally:
“Australia supports media freedom and the protection of journalists. All journalists should be able to do their work safely.”
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the incident “simply shocking” and demanded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raise the matter directly with U.S. President Donald Trump during their scheduled meeting later this month:
“The first thing he must tell the president is to stop shooting at our journalists.”
“Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.”
The incident involving Tomasi follows a similar injury sustained by British photojournalist Nick Stern, who was reportedly shot with a three-inch plastic bullet while documenting the same wave of protests on Sunday. As tensions continue to rise following widespread arrests of undocumented immigrants, the protests have turned into nightly confrontations between demonstrators and police across Los Angeles.
Gary O’Donoghue, BBC’s Chief North America Correspondent, commented on the intensifying risks:
“This is a really serious, serious situation for the inhabitants there, but also for journalists working on the ground.”
9News Responds
Tomasi’s employer, Nine Entertainment Co., issued a statement reaffirming support for its journalists and denouncing the violence:
“Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events.”
“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.”
As the situation in Los Angeles remains volatile, Tomasi’s injury is not just a personal ordeal—it has become symbolic of the growing threat to press freedom in conflict zones, even on democratic soil.
