Reporter Hit by Rubber Bullet During LA ICE Protest Sues City

Los Angeles violated an Australian reporter’s First Amendment right to cover an immigration protest when she was struck by a rubber bullet, a new federal lawsuit says.

Lauren Tomasi was reporting a segment on protests against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in June 2025 when an individual her lawsuit identified as a police officer fired a projectile that struck her in the leg. The Los Angeles Police Department also denied her public record request for information related to the incident, including the officer’s identity, her complaint filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California said.

Right before she was shot, she told the camera “This situation has rapidly deteriorated. The LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters.”

The city is facing another lawsuit, brought by the Los Angeles Press Club over allegations of excessive force used by the LAPD broadly against the press at protests that took place last summer. A federal judge barred the LAPD from interfering or retaliating against journalists who are covering protests in that case.

The incident with Tomasi, as well as those of other journalists, was cited in Judge Hernan Vera’s preliminary injunction order.

LAPD declined to comment on the lawsuit. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tomasi’s lawsuit filed Monday says that the LAPD commonly target reporters during protests.

“LAPD officers have continued to carry out a practice of intentionally targeting journalists, including through the unlawful use of crowd control munitions like rubber bullets, and impeding reporters from doing their jobs,” the filing said.

Tomasi said that the officer and Los Angeles violated her First Amendment rights to observe the public event, among other allegations of excessive force and violation of due process. She is asking the court to conclude that her rights were indeed violated and that the officer and city pay damages.

Tomasi was working as a Los Angeles Correspondent for Channel Nine, an Australian news network. She currently covers Washington, DC for the station.

Jassy Vick Carolan LLP and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press represent Tomasi.

The case is Tomasi v. City of Los Angeles, C.D. Cal., No. 2:26-cv-06184, complaint filed 6/8/26.