Tensions in Los Angeles have reached critical levels, with the city’s streets resembling a conflict zone amid ongoing protests. In one of the most jarring incidents to date, Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck by a plastic bullet while reporting live from the scene. The incident, captured in real-time, has reignited concerns about press safety and the escalating use of force during public demonstrations.
Tomasi, reporting for Australia’s Nine News, was broadcasting from the heart of the unrest when she was hit. Moments before being struck, her report captured the chaotic advance of law enforcement officers: “Police are advancing on horseback and firing rubber bullets,” she said. Seconds later, a loud impact can be heard as Tomasi recoils in pain.
The footage, which quickly circulated across social media platforms, drew widespread outrage. Onlookers in the video can be heard shouting at police: “You just f* shot the press!”
Nine News has since confirmed that both Tomasi and her camera operator are safe and recovering. Still, the broadcast served as a stark illustration of the risks faced by media professionals amid intensifying street clashes.
Political Firestorm
The shooting of the journalist comes as political tempers flare nationally. California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the federal response, accusing President Donald Trump of acting like a “dictator” in the face of civil unrest.
President Trump fired back, branding both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as “totally incompetent”, and calling for more aggressive measures. In one of his most incendiary social media posts, the president wrote: “ARREST THE MASKED THUGS NOW!”
Adding fuel to the fire, Donald Trump Jr. stoked controversy by referencing the so-called “Rooftop Koreans” of the 1992 Los Angeles riots—Korean-American business owners who armed themselves to protect their properties. In a post on X, he provocatively wrote: “Let’s make the Rooftop Koreans great again!
