NEWCASTLE, Australia — In Los Angeles on Sunday, an Australian television journalist found herself in the midst of a heated demonstration over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, resulting in her being struck by a nonlethal round live on air. The protest was sparked by Trump’s decision to deploy California National Guard troops to the area, a move that stirred significant controversy.
The incident was captured on video by 9News, showing their correspondent, Lauren Tomasi, delivering a live report when a nearby officer unexpectedly raised a firearm and discharged a nonlethal round at her from close range. The footage reveals Tomasi, holding a microphone and seemingly without personal protective gear, crying out in agony and clutching her leg. She and her cameraman quickly retreated from the confrontation line, with an angry exclamation from off-camera noting the reporter was shot.
Despite the shock, Tomasi reassured her team of her condition, insisting, “I’m good, I’m good.” The shooting occurred amid an intense scene of clashing riot police and demonstrators. At one point during her broadcast, Tomasi struggled to be heard over the chaos and even faced interference when a protestor attempted to seize the camera. She vividly described the unfolding situation, noting, “They’ve told people to get out of this area, and protesters have been refusing. We are safe here. It’s just noisy. But you can see the volatility.”
Later, Tomasi confirmed to 9News on Monday that both she and her cameraman were safe and unharmed, acknowledging the inherent dangers of reporting on situations like these. She stated, “I’m okay, my cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents.”
9News is a division of Nine, a prominent Australian media outlet that spans multiple platforms, including television, radio, print, and digital. Among its major assets are Channel Nine, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age.
The protests began with several hundred individuals last Friday but escalated to thousands by Sunday, with demonstrators going as far as blocking a major freeway and setting several self-driving cars aflame. President Trump’s decision to deploy troops to the city defied the objections of California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, marking the first deployment without state consent since 1967.