• British photographer Nick Stern was shot with a sponge bullet by police during LA anti-ICE protests and needed emergency surgery.
• The protests erupted after large ICE raids, leading to National Guard deployment and rising tensions in the city.
• Stern and others fear the situation may worsen as authorities increase military-style responses to control demonstrations.

A British photographer found himself at the heart of chaos in Los Angeles when police shot him during the recent anti-ICE protests shaking the city. Nick Stern, 60, from Hertford, England, was taking photos of the escalating confrontation between protestors and armed officers. Then, he was struck by a “sponge bullet” — a type of less-lethal projectile — that pierced his thigh, forcing him into emergency surgery.

Stern, who has lived in the United States since 2007, had rushed to the scene after hearing news of widespread protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the Paramount area of Los Angeles. His intention was clear: document the unfolding events and make sure he was identifiable as a member of the press. But what started as a routine assignment quickly spiraled into a harrowing ordeal.

From Observer to Victim: The Unexpected Turn of Events

“I was making myself clearly visible as media,” Stern explained in an interview with The Times. “Then, out of nowhere, I felt this sharp, burning pain in my leg.” The force of the sponge bullet was so severe that Stern immediately collapsed. “I fell down and noticed a large lump forming,” he said. The chaos around him made things worse, but fellow protestors rushed to his aid. “They helped me sit down, and the last thing I remember before blacking out was them telling me to stay calm.”

On arriving at the scene, Stern was stunned by the sudden intensity. Fires burned, and the air was thick with tension. He recalls a Black Hawk military helicopter hovering nearby. It was reportedly delivering boxes of ammunition for ICE officers, an ominous sign of the scale and seriousness of the police response. The tension in the air was palpable as officers wielded stun grenades and “less-lethal” weapons. These devices are intended to control crowds without lethal consequences, yet they are still capable of causing serious injury.

Stern had previously been injured while covering Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, but this time the impact felt different. The sponge bullet that hit him was an “exact impact” 40mm round — a plastic projectile with a sponge nose. It is designed to deliver a blunt force meant to incapacitate rather than kill. Still, the injury was severe.

Emergency Care and A Grim Diagnosis

After protestors helped him to the side of the street, paramedics took over. Stern vividly remembers the medics cutting open his trousers to assess the wound — revealing a large, gaping hole in his leg. “It was like a giant hole,” he said.

Paramedics rushed Stern to Long Beach Memorial Hospital. There, scans and X-rays painted a clearer picture of the damage. The wound was approximately 40mm wide and 60mm long. Emergency surgery followed to repair the serious injury. Stern was left reflecting on the dangers journalists face when covering such volatile situations.

Rising Tensions and The Arrival of The National Guard

The incident occurred amidst mounting unrest in Los Angeles, where protests erupted after ICE launched large-scale raids aiming to arrest thousands of immigrants. What began as demonstrations on Friday in downtown LA quickly spread to neighboring areas like Paramount and Compton by Saturday.

By Sunday, the situation escalated further with the deployment of the National Guard. Troops were seen patrolling the streets around City Hall, preparing for what officials predicted could be yet another day of unrest. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that active duty Marines were on “high alert.” President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 troops to quell what he described as “a form of rebellion.”

Stern expressed concern about the growing militarization of the city’s response. “I fear things will get worse before they get better,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the authorities start firing live rounds over people’s heads soon.”

Public Outcry and Divided Opinions

The public response to these events has been intense and deeply divided. Supporters of the protests argue that ICE’s aggressive raids are tearing families apart and violating basic human rights. For many, the protests represent a desperate plea for compassion and reform in immigration policy.

Conversely, others, including some city officials and law enforcement representatives, argue that the protests have turned violent and threaten public safety. The presence of military helicopters, stun grenades, and now the National Guard, underscores the high stakes and volatile nature of the confrontations.

Journalists and human rights advocates have condemned the shooting of Stern, highlighting the dangerous environment for media covering protests. The use of so-called “less-lethal” weapons, which have left many injured across the country, is under scrutiny. Critics say these weapons often cause serious harm, especially when used indiscriminately or without clear identification of press members.

Looking Ahead: A City on Edge

Los Angeles now stands at a crossroads. The deployment of troops has brought a sense of order but also fear. Many residents worry the heavy-handed approach may further inflame tensions rather than calm them. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the city can navigate this crisis peacefully or slide deeper into chaos.

For Stern, the experience is a stark reminder of the risks journalists face when reporting from the frontlines. Despite the trauma and pain, he remains committed to telling the story — capturing the human struggles at the core of the protests. His story also shines a light on the broader debate around protest policing, civil rights, and the limits of state power.

https://uslive.com/?s=riots, voices from all sides are calling for solutions that respect both public safety and the fundamental rights of individuals. Stern’s ordeal is a human face to a conflict that is much bigger than one man — a conflict that challenges the heart of American democracy itself.