Officer shoots Australian journalist with rubber bullet during Los Angeles immigration protests
A law enforcement officer shot Nine News Australia correspondent Lauren Tomasi with a rubber bullet while she was reporting live from a Los Angeles protest against federal immigration raids, prompting Australia's prime minister to call the incident unacceptable and raise it with the U.S. government.1
- Country
- United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)
- Where
- United States
- Level of government
- Municipal
- Tactic
- Detention and violence
- Stage
- Punish (see the ladder)
- Head of government at the time
- Karen Bass
- Issue of the day
- The protests followed a series of federal immigration enforcement raids in the Los Angeles area in early June 2025, which drew large crowds and a heavy police and, later, National Guard presence downtown.
- Outcome
- Unknown. No investigation or disciplinary outcome regarding the officer who fired at Tomasi was reported in the source reviewed.
- Era
- The 2020s
What happened
On June 9, 2025, Nine News Australia correspondent Lauren Tomasi was reporting live from downtown Los Angeles on protests against federal immigration raids when an officer behind her raised a firearm and fired at close range, striking her leg with a rubber bullet on live television. Los Angeles police reported dozens of arrests that weekend amid the unrest, but no agency issued a statement specifically addressing the shot fired at Tomasi. Tomasi said she and her cameraman were safe and called the incident one of the unfortunate realities of covering events like the protests. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident "horrific," said his government did "not find it acceptable that it occurred," and said Tomasi had been clearly identifiable as a reporter, adding that Australia had raised the matter with the U.S. government.123
What reason was given
No law-enforcement agency issued a public justification for firing at Tomasi specifically; officers more broadly cited the need to disperse crowds during the unrest.123
What changed for reporting
A foreign correspondent, clearly identifiable on camera, was struck by a less-lethal round while filing a live report, becoming one of several documented instances of officers firing on visibly identified journalists during the 2025 Los Angeles protests.2
Timeline
2025
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Karen Bass | other | Mayor of Los Angeles |
| Los Angeles Police Department | enforced | Municipal police department |
Outlets and journalists
| Name | Kind | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Nine News Australia | outlet | affected |
| Lauren Tomasi | journalist, Nine News Australia | affected |
Sources
Claims cited
- Tomasi said she and her cameraman were unharmed enough to continue after being struck by the round.
I'm okay. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe.
Australian reporter covering Los Angeles immigration protests hit by rubber bullet on live TV, CBS News, 2025-06-09. Claim 371, checked 2026-09-22. - Tomasi described the shooting as one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on this kind of unrest.
one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents.
Australian reporter covering Los Angeles immigration protests hit by rubber bullet on live TV, CBS News, 2025-06-09. Claim 372, checked 2026-09-22. - Prime Minister Albanese said the shooting of a clearly identified reporter was unacceptable and had been raised with U.S. officials.
we don't find it acceptable that it occurred
Australian reporter covering Los Angeles immigration protests hit by rubber bullet on live TV, CBS News, 2025-06-09. Claim 373, checked 2026-09-22.