During live coverage of the Los Angeles riots, a journalist was reportedly shot in the ankle by police.
The unrest erupted in Los Angeles last week following a series of arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) linked to alleged immigration violations, leading to protests and riots.
These disturbances persisted over the weekend, prompting President Trump to deploy National Guard troops in an effort to calm the situation.
Numerous arrests have been made since, including a person taken into custody on Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police, and another individual for driving a motorcycle into a line of officers, according to PA.
Vehicles were also set ablaze, with the resulting black smoke billowing into the sky and periodic explosions occurring as electric cars burned.
By Sunday night, authorities had declared an unlawful assembly, effectively closing down several blocks of downtown Los Angeles.
Media outlets worldwide have been covering the riots, including Australian broadcaster 9News.
US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was reporting live from the streets of LA when she was unexpectedly caught in the ‘crossfire,’ a moment that was captured on video.
Police were using rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrations when Tomasi was apparently struck in the ankle.
Understandably shocked, Tomasi exclaimed in pain and exited the frame while a concerned cameraman asked if she was alright.
Watch the incident here:
9News later confirmed that the journalist was “left sore but otherwise unharmed.”
Online, many have raised concerns that the officer deliberately targeted Tomasi. A close examination of the video suggests the officer turned towards her before discharging his weapon.
“He aims right at her,” one Twitter user noted. “No one in between them. No chance of it being a missed shot. A purposeful close range shot, at an unarmed journalist, who was walking away.”
“It looks like as soon as he makes eyes with the camera he fires,” echoed another commenter.
While it seemed as if Tomasi was specifically targeted, some suggested there were demonstrators behind her, implying they might have been the officer’s intended targets.
Others argued that Tomasi should have worn a press vest to clearly identify herself as media, thereby distinguishing herself from protesters.