(The Hill) — A correspondent from Australia was struck when Los Angeles police shot rubber bullets during clashes with protesters against immigration raids on Sunday.
“The situation has suddenly worsened after hours of standoff,” reported Lauren Tomasi, U.S. correspondent for Australia’s Nine News, live from downtown Los Angeles, just moments before being hit.
“The LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of L.A.,” she continued.
Moments later, Tomasi audibly exclaimed as she grabbed her calf, apparently in pain, as the camera panned away from the incident.
“You just f—ing shot the reporter,” an individual was heard saying off-camera.
Another individual asked Tomasi if she was okay, and she said, “I’m good.”
Tomasi returned to her reporting spot hours later, and an Australian anchor asked the U.S.-based correspondent for an update on her condition.
“I’m alright. My cameraman, Jimmy, and I are unharmed. This is one of the unfortunate aspects of reporting on such events. It’s been a highly volatile day on the streets of Los Angeles,” mentioned Tomasi, adding that the downtown area had mostly emptied as the night fell.
Nine News issued a similar statement after the incident.
“Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events,” the statement read, according to the outlet’s reporting of the incident.
“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 statement continued.
A British news photographer, Nick Stern, was also struck while reporting on the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles this past weekend, according to numerous British outlets. He is now recovering from emergency surgery.
“My initial concern was, were they firing live rounds?” Stern told a news agency, noting he was struck by a 14mm “sponge bullet” in his thigh.
“Some of the protesters came and helped me, and they ended up carrying me, and I noticed that there was blood pouring down my leg,” he added.
