TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An Australian journalist covering live from downtown Los Angeles, California, amid massive protests against the harsh immigration actions of US President Donald Trump, was shot by US police in the leg.
Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for 9News, was reporting live on the rapidly deteriorating riots in the city on Sunday night local time, when she was shot as reported by CBS News and Daily Mail.
"LAPD moved in on horseback and fired rubber bullets at the protesters," Tomasi said.
As she informed the audience that the police were "herding them [protesters] into the heart of downtown LA," several loud explosions were heard in the distance.
A few moments later during the live broadcast, an officer was seen aiming a weapon towards Tomasi.
Puffs of smoke appeared beside the journalist and she then staggered in pain.
"You just shot a reporter," a protester yelled at the nearby police.
Tomasi, not wearing any protective gear, screamed in pain and held the lower part of her leg as the camera operator quickly panned away and they moved back from the police line.
Tomasi reassured her crew that she was okay, "Yes, I'm okay, I'm okay."
The Los Angeles demonstrations started with a few hundred people on Friday and swelled on Sunday to thousands blocking major freeways and burning some driverless cars.
On Saturday, Trump, referring to the demonstrators as "troublemakers and rebels," sent around 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom. This marks the first deployment of the National Guard without state consent since 1967.
The shooting occurred after a tense afternoon where Tomasi and her crew were caught between anti-riot police and protesters. At one point, she struggled to speak over the sound of clashes, while a protester grabbed the camera mid-broadcast.
"They've been telling people to get out of this area, and protesters were refusing," she reported. "We're safe here. It's just noisy. But you can see the instability."
Speaking to 9News on Monday, Tomasi confirmed that she was safe.
"I'm okay, my cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unpleasant realities in covering incidents like this," she said.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said on Sunday night that a total of 39 people had been arrested - 29 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday - in relation to the Los Angeles riots.
Los Angeles protesters marched against President Donald Trump's harsh actions on illegal migrants and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids.
The scenes in Los Angeles showed burning cars and the release of toxic gas as demonstrators chained themselves to furniture and established blockades to fully shut down Downtown Los Angeles as violence extended into the third day.
Trump sent 2,000 National Guard troops and later dispatched 700 Marines on Monday evening. Meanwhile, the LAPD has allowed the 'less-lethal' use of ammunition to regain control of the city.
The conflict has sparked a war of words between Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused him of intentionally stoking tension.
Trump responded with a post on Truth Social on Sunday demanding Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass to apologize for the Los Angeles riots.
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