A journalist, who was shot by the Los Angeles Police Department during the city’s riots, has spoken about the experience.
On June 8, Lauren Tomasi, a US correspondent for Australia’s 9News, was reporting live on the protests when she became a victim of the conflict.
The protests began in Los Angeles after ICE made numerous arrests related to alleged immigration violations, causing rioters to flood the streets and quickly escalate the situation. Molotov cocktails were reportedly thrown at law enforcement, and vehicles in the area were set on fire.
To disperse the crowd, police resorted to shooting rubber bullets at the protesters, during which Tomasi was hit.
The incident was captured live on camera, showing an officer in the background seemingly aiming at the reporter and hitting her ankle with a rubber bullet. You can view the shocking moment here:
Following the incident, the Australian reporter screamed and cursed before leaving the camera’s view.
Tomasi has since resumed her reporting duties and addressed the incident.
When asked by a fellow reporter in the studio how she was faring, Tomasi replied: “I am okay. My cameraman, Jimmy, and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kind of incidents.”
She continued, “It has been a really volatile day on the streets of Los Angeles. And I do want to show you the scene here tonight.”
The camera then panned to downtown LA, which had been cordoned off.
Tomasi added, “The city warned that if anyone moves through here, they will be arrested on the spot.”
The footage of Tomasi being shot sparked outrage, with some suggesting the officer deliberately targeted her.
“He aims right at her,” one Twitter user argued. “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.”
The LADbible group has previously reached out to the LAPD for their comments.
In response to the riots that erupted last week, Donald Trump ordered 300 members of the national guard to be deployed to LA.
According to ABC.net, the president indicated that all 2,000 guards might be sent to the city if needed.
“We’re going to have troops everywhere,” Trump warned. He also wrote on Truth Social: “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”