Tensions boiled over in downtown Los Angeles as immigration protests turned chaotic over the weekend. Among the crowd was Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, reporting live for Nine News, when she was hit by a rubber bullet near the Metropolitan Detention Center.

The protests were sparked by President Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown. As law enforcement moved in to disperse demonstrators, officers began firing rubber bullets. In video footage of the scene, a bystander can be heard yelling, “You just f**king shot the reporter,” while Tomasi stepped away from the camera and confirmed she was not seriously injured. Footage appeared to show an officer aiming in her direction.

Nine News later confirmed the incident, emphasizing the dangers journalists face while covering high-tension events like these.

Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young condemned the incident, saying it raises serious concerns about press freedom—a fundamental democratic principle. At the time, the LAPD had declared the protest an “unlawful assembly” and warned everyone, including members of the press, to leave the area.

President Trump has since called for the National Guard to be deployed to control ongoing demonstrations. California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have pushed back, calling for calm and de-escalation. The incident has drawn international scrutiny over the use of force by U.S. law enforcement against both protesters and journalists.