Watch: Aussie journalist hit by rubber bullet on Live TV while covering LA protests over Trump’s immigration raids

An Australian journalist has been shot with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles amid riots and protests over immigration raids. As riot police advanced with non-lethal munitions, Channel Nine News’ US Correspondent Lauren Tomasi was struck in the leg by a non-lethal rubber bullet.


She cried out and immediately grabbed her thigh. Her cameraman asked if she was okay. She replied, “Yeah, I’m good, I’m good” before retreating to safety.



Watch the video:



The protests began Friday in response to ICE-led deportation operations in the fashion district, a Home Depot, and a clothing wholesaler. Reports say more than 100 people were arrested, and federal agents used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds.

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By Sunday, demonstrations had grown increasingly fierce. Protesters set police vehicles ablaze on major streets. Clashes included pepper spray, flash-bang grenades, and thrown projectiles.

In response to the unrest, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in an unprecedented, unilateral move without clearance from California’s governor, the first of its kind since 1967.

Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the deployment as “unlawful” and “purposefully inflammatory,” criticizing it as federal overreach that could escalate violence. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also questioned the decision’s legitimacy and urged calm among citizens.

President Trump defended his actions, calling the protests a “migrant invasion” and saying federal troops were needed to “restore order and expel undocumented migrants.” He warned of the possible deployment of active-duty Marines if unrest persisted.

Protesters across downtown Los Angeles, along with satellite clashes in Paramount and Compton, blocked highways, launched fireworks, and set vehicles on fire.

Police used tear gas and employed ISP enforcement to control crowds. Over 100 arrests occurred, and several people were injured.

Authorities in Los Angeles arrested approximately 30 individuals on Saturday, including three who were suspected of assaulting an officer.

The movement has become a focal point in the national debate over immigration and federal versus state authority. Critics, including the ACLU and California Democrats, condemned the deployment as authoritarian.

They argue it undercuts state sovereignty and chills peaceful protest. Pro-Trump voices defended the move as essential for public safety.