Lauren Tomasi: Australian Journalist Shot in LA Protests

Age: 32 (born 1992 or 1993) ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Occupation: Washington Correspondent ·
Employer: Nine News Australia ·
Notable Incident: Shot with a rubber bullet while covering Los Angeles protests in June 2025

Who is Lauren Tomasi?

Lauren Tomasi is an Australian journalist who has been working for the Nine Network since 2019. She serves as the network’s Washington Correspondent, based in Washington, D.C., covering both U.S. politics and entertainment. Her reporting has taken her to the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Golden Globes, and she has interviewed high-profile figures such as Kevin Costner and Ryan Reynolds (CBS News, established editorial outlet).

Before joining Nine, Tomasi built a career in Australian television news. Her move to the U.S. in 2023 as Washington Correspondent marked a significant step, putting her at the center of the country’s biggest political and cultural stories. The pattern: a steady rise through the ranks of one of Australia’s most prominent news organisations.

The following table captures her key details:

The implication: Tomasi’s rapid rise from entertainment to Washington correspondent shows her adaptability, but the shooting has redefined her public identity.

What is Lauren Tomasi known for?

Tomasi gained international recognition for her coverage of U.S. politics and entertainment. But the event that catapulted her into the global spotlight was the rubber bullet shooting during the Los Angeles anti-ICE protests on June 8, 2025. Footage of the incident—captured live on air—showed an LAPD officer aiming in her direction and firing a projectile that struck her leg (BBC News, leading international broadcaster).

She later told CBS News she was “okay” and that her cameraman Jimmy was also safe. Despite the injury, the incident did not end her reporting: she continued to cover the protests and later gave interviews reflecting on the experience (ABC7 Los Angeles, local ABC affiliate).

The implication: Tomasi is now known not only for her reporting but also as a symbol of the risks journalists face when documenting law enforcement actions.

Where was Lauren Tomasi shot?

The shooting took place while Tomasi was reporting live from the anti-ICE protests in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025. She and her cameraman were positioned about 10 yards in front of a line of LAPD officers, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a nonprofit press freedom organization. Video reviewed by multiple news outlets shows an officer raising a firearm and firing a projectile directly at the news crew (BBC News).

The protests were sparked by immigration enforcement efforts and the deployment of California National Guard troops. Tomasi was struck in the leg by what the Committee to Protect Journalists called a rubber bullet (Committee to Protect Journalists, international press watchdog). She was not wearing protective gear, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, and was left “sore but otherwise unharmed.”

“I’m okay. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe.”

— Lauren Tomasi, speaking to CBS News after the shooting

The trade-off: while Tomasi escaped serious physical injury, the incident highlighted how quickly a routine live shot can turn dangerous when police use crowd-control munitions near journalists.

What nationality is Lauren Tomasi?

Lauren Tomasi is Australian. She works for Nine News Australia, one of the country’s major television networks. Her surname has led some to ask whether she holds Italian nationality, but no public records confirm Italian citizenship (CBS News). She is a permanent resident of the United States for work purposes, based in Washington, D.C.

Is Lauren Tomasi Italian?

• Her surname ‘Tomasi’ is common in Italy, suggesting possible Italian heritage.
• Neither Tomasi nor Nine News has publicly confirmed dual nationality.
• All her professional affiliations point to Australian citizenship.

The catch: without a direct statement from Tomasi or official records, the Italian nationality question remains speculation. But for readers, the core fact is her Australian identity as a journalist representing Nine News abroad.

Who shot the Australian reporter with a rubber bullet?

The officer who fired the rubber bullet at Tomasi has not been publicly identified. The Los Angeles Police Department has not released the officer’s name (Los Angeles Times, major West Coast newspaper). In June 2026, Tomasi filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles that alleges the officer targeted her in retaliation for reporting in a public forum (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press). The lawsuit also claims that LAPD denied Tomasi’s request for public records about the event, including the officer’s identity (Bloomberg Law, legal news service).

A federal judge later issued a temporary restraining order blocking LAPD from using rubber projectiles and other less-lethal munitions against journalists covering protests, citing the Tomasi incident as part of the reasoning (Los Angeles Times).

“Law enforcement injure multiple journalists, others assaulted while covering Los Angeles protests.”

— Committee to Protect Journalists, June 2025

Why this matters: the lack of officer identity and the ongoing lawsuit mean that accountability is still pending. For international journalists working in the U.S., the case underscores the need for clear rules on the use of force against the press.

Timeline: Lauren Tomasi’s career and the shooting incident

• 2019 – Joined Nine Network as a journalist (CBS News).
• 2023 – Appointed Washington Correspondent for Nine News Australia (CBS News).
• June 8, 2025 – Shot with a rubber bullet while covering Los Angeles protests (The Hill, political news outlet).
• June 2026 – Filed federal lawsuit against City of Los Angeles (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press).

The pattern: a decade-long career trajectory that ascended rapidly, then hit a dramatic turning point that fused career and cause.

What was confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Lauren Tomasi is an Australian journalist for Nine Network (The Hill)
• She was shot with a rubber bullet during the LA protests on June 8, 2025 (BBC News)
• She is the Washington Correspondent for Nine News (CBS News)
• Video showed an officer firing in her direction (BBC News)
• Tomasi filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles (Bloomberg Law)
• A federal judge blocked LAPD from using rubber projectiles against journalists (citing Tomasi incident) (Los Angeles Times)

What’s unclear

• Exact birth year (1992 vs 1993)
• Identity of the officer who fired the rubber bullet
• Current health status post-incident (beyond initial reports of being “sore”) (ABC7 Los Angeles)
• Whether the officer will face any disciplinary action
• The exact location within downtown LA where the shooting occurred
• Whether Tomasi was wearing a press credential at the time

The catch: while many facts are confirmed, key details about the shooter and Tomasi’s exact condition remain unknown, leaving questions about accountability.

Key quotes from Tomasi and press organizations

“I’m okay. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe.”

— Lauren Tomasi, CBS News

“Law enforcement injure multiple journalists, others assaulted while covering Los Angeles protests.”

— Committee to Protect Journalists

“The complaint alleges LAPD and the officer targeted Tomasi in retaliation for reporting in a public forum.”

— Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

These statements underscore the seriousness of the incident: a journalist doing her job became a target, and press freedom groups have rallied to her defense.

Summary: what this means for press freedom

The Tomasi case is not just about one reporter’s bad day. It has already led to a federal court order restraining LAPD from using rubber bullets against journalists – a concrete legal consequence. For Australian journalists covering protests in the United States, the choice is clear: demand that law enforcement respect the press’s role, or risk becoming the next headline. For the LAPD, the implication is equally stark: the courts are watching.

The pattern: legal actions following the incident have already influenced police policy, signaling that press freedom protections are being actively enforced.

Frequently asked questions

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