Watch as Australian reporter hit by a rubber bullet while covering escalating L.A. protests

As tensions boiled over for a third-straight day in Los Angeles, an Australian television reporter covering the unrest was hit with a rubber bullet during a live broadcast on Sunday. At the time, Lauren Tomasi, a U.S. correspondent for 9News, and her camera operator were wrapping up a live hit from a downtown street near the Metropolitan Detention Centre, where protesters have clashed with police since Friday.

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. #9NewsLATEST: https://t.co/l5w7JxixxB pic.twitter.com/nvQ7m9TGLj— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 9, 2025

“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.,” the 31-year-old, standing alongside other members of the media, says into the camera as loud bangs and screams echo around her. As the camera pans to the viewer’s left, an unmasked LAPD officer in riot gear quickly appears to take aim and fire at Tomasi, who is standing back on. The reporter quickly grabs her lower left leg as she screams in pain. “You just f—ing shot the reporter,” screams a voice off camera as Tomasi’s cameraman turns away and asks if she’s OK. “Yeah, I’m good, I’m good,” she says, emotion evident in her voice as they move away from the scene. Some time before, at approximately 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Tomasi and her cameraman, whom she later identified as Jimmy, were caught in a large crowd that officers were trying to disperse from a major intersection with tear gas, flash bangs and horse-mounted officers. “We are safe here. It’s just noisy. But you can see the volatility,” she tells Today Extra hosts back in Sydney. The city had declared the gathering to be an unlawful assembly. “Arrests are being made. To our media partners, please keep a safe distance from active operations,” LAPD posted on X.

The City of Los Angeles is on Tactical Alert. An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared for the area of Alameda between 2nd St and Aliso St. A DISPERSAL ORDER has been issued. Arrests are being made. To our media partners, please keep a safe distance from active operations.— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 8, 2025

As things escalate, Tomasi and her cameraman try to stay to the side, but masked protesters interfere with her and the camera, forcing 9News to cut away. Speaking with colleague Peter Overton later that night, Tomasi, who kept working after being struck, said it’s the risk journalists take. “I’m OK. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents,” she said in an area now entirely cleared of protesters. Their employer echoed her statement and said the duo would continue to cover the happenings. “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,” Nine said in a statement. Back in Australia, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called it “shocking” and “completely unacceptable” on BlueSky and urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the matter directly with U.S. President Donald Trump. Per The Guardian , Senator Matt Canavan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that “a detailed investigation” is required, while Senator Nick McKim said government should immediately “make its displeasure at what happened abundantly clear … at the highest possible level.” Meanwhile, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement to say that the country “supports media freedom and the protection of journalists,” who should be able to work in safety.

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