Australian reporter hit by nonlethal munition during LA protests

A riot police officer has been caught on camera opening fire on an Australian reporter covering violent demonstrations in the US.

A video has caught the moment an Australian reporter was hit by a projectile while covering violent demonstrations in the US.

Nine’s Lauren Tomasi was reporting from Los Angeles, where law enforcement and the US National Guard have been facing off with thousands protesting Donald Trump’s mass deportations.

Tomasi, microphone in hand, had just finished giving an update to camera when an officer standing behind her raised his firearm and fired a nonlethal round.

She immediately let out a cry and clutched her leg as she and her cameraman retreated further from the police line.

“You just f**king shot the reporter,” someone off-screen shouted.

Tomasi’s cameraman asked if she was OK.

“Yeah, I’m good, I’m good,” she replied.

Nine’s Lauren Tomasi has been struck by a nonlethal munition while covering demonstrations in the US. Picture: NewsWire / Screengrab

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed the Australian Consulate-General has been in contact with Tomasi, and reiterated Canberra’s support for media freedom.

A DFAT spokesman said officials stood “ready to provide consular assistance if required” by Tomasi.

“Australia supports media freedom and the protection of journalists. All journalists should be able to do their work safely,” the spokesman said.

“The Smartraveller travel advice for the US currently advises Australians to avoid areas where demonstrations and protests are occurring due to the ongoing potential for unrest and violence. Australians should monitor the media for information and updates, and follow the instructions of local authorities.”

It follows Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who called on Anthony Albanese to seek “an urgent explanation” from the Trump administration over the incident.

“It is completely unacceptable and must be called out,” she said.

What started as a few hundred protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Friday escalated dramatically by Sunday (local time), with burning police vehicles scattered along streets and clashes between demonstrators and riot officers.

The Trump administration has tasked federal immigration agents with arresting at least 3000 migrants per day as part of the US President’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

Daily raids across the country have sparked shock and scathing criticisms, as well as warnings they could jeopardise key sectors where undocumented workers do the heavy-lifting.

Southern California is among the regions most impacted by the raids.

Tensions in Los Angeles have been worsened by the US President’s decision to deploy 2000 National Guard troops to the city — the first time since 1967 that a president has done so without a request from a state governor.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who Mr Trump often refers to as “Gavin Newscum”, has blasted the move as “not to meet an unmet need, but to manufacture a crisis”.

He also wrote an official request on Sunday to the Trump administration to withdraw the National Guard, calling it “unlawful” and a “serious breach of state sovereignty”.

Thousands have taken to the streets in Los Angeles to protest US President Donald Trump’s mass deportations. Picture: Eitenne Laurent / AFP

“Rescind the order. Return control to California,” Mr Newsom wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has defended the move, calling the initial protests a “riot”.

“I think it was very bad,” he told reporters.

“We’re going to have troops everywhere. We’re not going to let this happen to our country.”

He also took to social media to call the situation a “migrant invasion”.

“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” Mr Trump wrote.

“Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.”

He said he was directing senior defence and security officials “to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots”.

“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,” Mr Trump said.

Deranged = allowing your city to burn & law enforcement to be attacked.

There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job.

The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE. https://t.co/KVjvvnaL70

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) June 8, 2025

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has also threatened to deploy the Marine Corps.

It would be an unprecedented and legally complex move.

Mr Newsom said the threat of deploying “active-duty Marines on American soil against its own citizens” was “deranged behaviour”.

But Mr Hegseth hit back saying it was “deranged” to let “your city burn”.

“There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job,” he posted on X.

“The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE.”