Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who works for Nine News, was shot with a rubber bullet by police while covering the protests in Los Angeles. The protests had turned violent as people demonstrated against President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies. Some protesters were even setting cars on fire in the streets on Sunday, June 8.
Tomasi was reporting live from the scene in downtown LA, right outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre — where people were being held after immigration raids. She described how the situation had quickly escalated, with police officers moving in on horseback and using rubber bullets to break up the crowds.
Just moments after she finished her sentence on camera, a rubber bullet hit her. In a video shared online, you can hear someone nearby shouting angrily, “You just f\*\*king shot the reporter!” Despite the impact, Tomasi stayed calm and quickly told others, “I’m good,” reassuring them that she was okay.
Video posted by Nine News appears to show a police officer aiming in Tomasi’s direction before opening fire. The news outlet confirmed that both Tomasi and her camera operator were safe and would keep reporting from the scene. They also said this moment is a clear reminder of how dangerous it can be for journalists covering protests, especially when tensions are high.
Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young reacted strongly to the news. She demanded that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speak directly with U.S. officials and get answers from the LAPD. She called the shooting “shocking” and “completely unacceptable,” stressing that freedom of the press is vital in any democracy. She added that one of the first things the Australian Prime Minister should tell President Trump is to stop allowing journalists to be targeted.
The LAPD had already declared the gathering in downtown LA an unlawful assembly before the shooting happened. They warned the public on social media to stay away from the Civic Center area, saying arrests were being made. In another post, the LAPD also told news organizations to stay at a safe distance from police operations.
This incident has added fuel to the growing anger around how the protests are being handled — and raised serious concerns about press freedom and safety for journalists doing their jobs in dangerous conditions.
