Reporter Gets Hit By Rubber Bullet At LA Protest, Sparking Shock Allegation

Lauren Tomasi's outlet pointed out the "inherent dangers" that journalists face.
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A journalist covering the protests in Los Angeles was blasted by a rubber bullet during her report, prompting allegations that she was purposely targeted by an LAPD officer. (Watch the video below.)

As demonstrations against the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and deployment of the National Guard intensified, 9 News Australia reporter Lauren Tomasi said, “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.”

She is then hit by an apparent rubber bullet in the leg, screaming “whaa!” as she jumps in pain.

Video showed an officer taking aim in her direction, and Australian politicians alleged the attack was deliberate.

“The first thing he [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese] must tell [President Donald Trump] is to stop shooting at our journalists,” Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young said, per the Guardian. “Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.”

Sen. Matt Canavan told the outlet “it looks like there was a targeting there” but didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

#9News</a><br><br>LATEST: <a href=https://www.huffpost.com/"https://t.co/l5w7JxixxB/">https://t.co/l5w7JxixxB <a href=https://www.huffpost.com/"https://t.co/nvQ7m9TGLj/">pic.twitter.com/nvQ7m9TGLj

— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) <a href=https://www.huffpost.com/"https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS/status/1931885297203347706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\%22>June 9, 2025</a></blockquote>","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"9News Australia","author_url":"https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS","cache_age":86400,"description":"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\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1920,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/1931885158648672256/img/Vg_N2g9pxfCQ6wJA.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1080,"title":"9News Australia on Twitter / 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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

Reporting that Tomasi was indeed struck by a rubber bullet, News 9 said in a statement to The Daily Beast: “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.”

The Los Angeles Police Department told The Daily Beast it was not aware of the incident.

The BBC reported that British photographer Nick Stern suffered a leg wound from a rubber bullet amid the protests. He required emergency surgery to remove the projectile.

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