Footage from recent protests in Los Angeles shows law enforcement officials shooting a woman with what appears to be ‘less lethal’ ammunition while she was walking alone near her home. The video, recorded by a bystander and shared on social media, captures the woman strolling down a street as a line of officers instructs her to vacate the area.
In a dramatic moment, a loud bang is heard as one of the officers fires at her, causing the woman to step back and stagger away. She then states, ‘I live here.’ The bystander who filmed the scene rushes to assist the woman, who is seen crying, helping her to sit down as officers continue yelling orders. ‘They literally just shot her point-blank,’ the witness remarks as the chaos unfolds.
The Los Angeles Police Department has not responded to inquiries regarding the incident as of Wednesday morning.
‘Less than lethal,’ ‘non-lethal,’ or ‘less lethal’ munitions such as rubber, plastic, or sponge bullets and pepper balls are often employed by US law enforcement during protests to disperse crowds. However, these munitions, despite their designation, have been known to inflict serious injury or even death.
During ongoing protests in Los Angeles, police have deployed flashbangs, teargas, and rubber bullets, with reports also indicating the use of pepper balls.
On Sunday, Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi of Nine News was injured by a rubber bullet while covering the protests live. The network confirmed that Tomasi and her camera operator ‘are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events.’
In a statement, Nine News remarked, ‘This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.’