An Australian television correspondent was struck by a rubber bullet fired by Los Angeles police while covering mass protests that have gripped the city for three consecutive days.
Lauren Tomasi, a US correspondent for Nine Network, was reporting on the escalating demonstrations Sunday evening when she was hit by the projectile at close range.
The incident occurred as she provided live coverage of the police response to the ongoing civil unrest.
“The LAPD are moving in on horseback and firing rubber bullets at protesters,” Tomasi stated during her broadcast.
She was describing how officers were “moving them (protesters) on through the heart of LA” when multiple loud bangs could be heard in the background.
Video footage captured the moment when a police officer turned his weapon toward the journalist.
A cloud of smoke appeared beside Tomasi, causing her to double over in apparent pain from the impact.
A protester at the scene shouted at nearby officers, “You just f***ing shot a reporter.”
Several demonstrators stopped to check on Tomasi’s condition, with the reporter responding “I’m good, I’m good.”
Nine Network confirmed that Tomasi was “left sore but otherwise unharmed” by the rubber bullet strike. The journalist continued her coverage despite