In a startling incident that unfolded during intense protests in Los Angeles against sweeping federal immigration raids, Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet fired by police—an action some allege was intentional—while she was reporting live on air from the front lines.

The protests erupted following a massive immigration raid on June 6, described by the New York Times as “an extraordinary show of force.” Federal agents stormed an apparel factory in the heart of the Los Angeles Fashion District, marking it as one of at least three known raids in the city on that day. News of the enforcement action spread rapidly, igniting widespread outrage. Within hours, large crowds filled the streets, chanting slogans, blocking major intersections, and clashing with both federal and local law enforcement. What began as a protest quickly escalated into civil unrest.

As night fell, the city was plunged into chaos. Rioters launched fireworks, threw bricks, and even set vehicles on fire. The situation grew so dire that President Donald Trump called in the National Guard, deploying federal troops to the streets of Los Angeles—an action that had not occurred since the infamous Watts Riots in 1965 and was done without state consent.

Amid the turmoil stood Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi. On June 8, she was calmly reporting for 9News Australia from outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, a location that had become a focal point for demonstrators. “They’ve instructed people to leave this area, but the protesters are refusing to comply,” Tomasi reported live. “We are safe here. It’s just quite loud. However, you can sense the tension. I can see that police are firing rubber bullets at the protesters.” Shortly after her on-air report, the feed was cut so that Tomasi and her cameraman could move to safety.

Roughly an hour later, Tomasi returned to the broadcast. This time, she explained that the situation had “quickly worsened.” The sounds of gunfire echoed through the city as LAPD officers advanced on horseback. Moments after describing the scene of police dispersing protesters and firing rubber bullets, Tomasi herself became part of the unfolding story. According to 9News, just after she concluded her report, an officer turned his weapon toward her and fired at close range.

Captured on video, Tomasi was seen standing her ground as a rubber bullet struck her. Smoke from the shot lingered in the air behind her. “You just f***ing shot a reporter!” one protester screamed at police officers as others rushed to check on the stunned journalist. Despite the shocking moment, Tomasi remained calm and told those nearby, “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Later that evening, Tomasi reassured viewers, saying, “I’m alright. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe.” She continued, “This is just one of the unfortunate realities of covering these types of events.” From the now-quiet streets of downtown Los Angeles, she described the aftermath. “This whole area has been cleared. The city has warned that anyone who enters will be arrested immediately.”

She reflected on the heightened tension gripping the city. “There has been a lot of tempers flaring today, and certainly tonight there is a significant amount of anger in the city of angels.”

Footage of the incident quickly spread across social media, stirring outrage and sparking debate. Many claimed the shot was clearly deliberate, aimed at an unarmed journalist doing her job. One user tweeted, “You can see him take aim directly at her. Unbelievable,” attaching a video clip showing the officer pointing his weapon in Tomasi’s direction. Another commented, “This reckless police officer who shot Australian Journalist Lauren Tomasi while she was clearly holding a microphone should have been fired yesterday. It’s outrageous that they complain about riots while they are clearly trying to incite one.”

A third voice added, “He directly targets her as she moves away, clearly on air. No threat. No one between them. It wasn’t an accidental shot. It was intentional!” The sentiment was echoed by others who pointed out that the officer took aim at Tomasi while she was walking away, emphasizing the absence of any crowd between them. “He aims right at her. No one in between them. No possibility of it being a missed shot. An intentional close-range shot at an unarmed journalist who was walking away,” another observer noted.

As the debate intensified, 9News released an official statement confirming that both Tomasi and her camera operator were unharmed and would continue their essential work in covering the story. The network praised their commitment to journalism amid dangerous and fast-changing conditions.

This incident highlights the very real and growing risks journalists face when reporting from protest zones and conflict areas. It underscores the vital role they play in informing the public, even when doing so places them directly in harm’s way. For journalists like Lauren Tomasi, the mission to share the truth does not come without personal cost.

The event also ignited political backlash in Australia. South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young condemned the shooting and urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the issue directly with U.S. President Donald Trump. “It is absolutely shocking that U.S. authorities would shoot an Australian journalist,” Hanson-Young told 9News. “This behavior is entirely unacceptable and needs to be condemned.”

She continued, “The prime minister must urgently demand an explanation from the U.S. government. As Albanese prepares for his initial meeting with President Trump, his first message should be to stop targeting our journalists.”

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