Lauren Tomasi: LA Police give major update after officer opens fire on reporter during live cross

Los Angeles police have launched a formal investigation after one of its officers opened fire on an Australian reporter during a live cross covering the LA protests.

Vision of the frightening incident in which an officer appears to deliberately swing their gun, take aim and then shoot at the reporter has gone viral and sparked worldwide condemnation.

Lauren Tomasi, Nine’s US correspondent, was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet as she reported on the wild scenes breaking out on the streets around LA after controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.

Tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bang explosives have been raining down on the protesters since the large crowds became violent and charged at authorities on Sunday.

After she was hit in the leg, a member of the crowd can be heard screaming at the police saying, “You just shot the f...ing reporter”.

Ms Tomasi’s cameraman can also be heard asking “are you OK” as the pair hurriedly moved away from the centre of the clashes.

The LAPD confirmed on Tuesday that a “formal investigation” into the shooting was underway, according to Nine.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident in the US appeared deliberate and labelled the action “not acceptable”.

He said he had raised the incident with the Trump Administration.

“We have already raised these issues with the US administration,” the PM said.

“We don’t find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think that the role of the media is particularly important.”

He declined to offer what was said in his correspondence.

He also revealed he had spoken with Ms Tomasi over the phone on Tuesday.

“She’s going OK. She’s pretty resilient, I’ve got to say. But that footage was horrific,” he told the National Press Club.

“She was clearly identified. Clearly identified. There was no ambiguity.

“It is not acceptable. I respect the role that the media play. And people should respect the role that the media play in our modern society.”

After the “nasty” incident, Tomasi took to social media to reassure followers she was OK.

“Hey there. Thanks for all your messages – I’m a bit sore, but I’m OK,” Tomasi wrote.

she told Melbourne talkback station 3AW, she was “going to have a bit of a nasty bruise”.

“It really did hurt,” Tomasi said.

“I’d say it’s kind of the size of a golf ball – a hard-ish rubber.

“I’ve got a bit of a circle on my calf muscle. I’m lucky it was there.”

She said it “comes part and parcel with the job sometimes”, but “it does kind of give you an idea of the sense of just how much this is deteriorating and how the situation here is out of control”.

Asked why she thought the officer shot at her, Tomasi said she did not know and put it down to the chaotic circumstances.

“I think they’re just firing at anyone who is remotely in the way,” she said.

“We certainly were not trying to get in the way … we were standing off to the side.”

— with NCA