Journalist Requires Emergency Surgery After Being Shot by LAPD in Protests
What led to the journalist Nick Stern’s LAPD shooting during the anti-ICE protests?
In the heart of Los Angeles, where voices rise against injustice, a single moment can change everything.
On June 7, 2025, the city was alive with protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Among the crowd was Nick Stern, a British photographer capturing the raw emotions of the moment. But what started as a routine assignment turned into a fight for survival.
A Peaceful Protest Turns Violent
Nick Stern, a 60-year-old news photographer, was documenting a standoff outside a Home Depot in Paramount, a spot known for hiring day laborers.
The air was thick with tension as protesters chanted against ICE’s actions. Stern, wearing a press badge and carrying a large camera, moved carefully through the scene.
Around 9 p.m., as he crossed the street, a sharp pain tore through his thigh. A non-lethal round, likely a 14mm sponge bullet, had struck him.
I felt a lump sticking out of my leg, and blood was everywhere,” Stern later told reporters.
Protesters rushed to help, carrying him to safety as a medic applied a tourniquet. He was rushed to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery to remove the projectile.
This wasn’t Stern’s first brush with danger. In 2020, during the George Floyd protests, he was hit by a foam projectile, leaving bruises but no lasting damage.
This time, the injury was far worse, requiring immediate medical attention. Despite the pain, Stern remains determined to return to work, saying, “This is too important. It needs documenting.”
A Pattern of Press Under Fire
Stern wasn’t the only journalist hurt that weekend. Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting live for 9News.
The incident, caught on camera, sparked outrage, with bystanders shouting, “You shot the reporter!” Both journalists were clearly marked as press, raising concerns about the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) tactics.
The LAPD has not commented on whether the shootings were intentional, but investigations are underway. Australia’s government has called for answers, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling the footage “horrific.”
The incidents highlight a growing issue: journalists facing violence while covering protests. A 2024 report by the Committee to Protect Journalists noted a 50% increase in attacks on media in the U.S. compared to 2023.
Stern himself sued the LAPD in 2021 after being hit with rubber bullets and batons during Black Lives Matter protests, settling for $150,000 in 2024.
These events have fueled debates about press freedom and police accountability.
Why the Protests Matter
The anti-ICE protests erupted after ICE conducted large-scale raids in Los Angeles, targeting immigrant communities. Many locals see these actions as tearing families apart.
“The communities here are tight-knit,” Stern explained. “ICE coming in and taking people away doesn’t sit well.”
The protests, now in their third day, have seen clashes with police, National Guard deployments, and even burning Waymo cars used as barricades.
President Donald Trump’s decision to send 2,000 troops to the city has only heightened tensions, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling it “inflammatory.”
Nick Stern’s story is more than a tale of injury—it’s a reminder of the risks journalists take to tell the truth. As he recovers, his camera remains ready to capture the next chapter of this unfolding drama.
You might also want to read: Shocking Scene: Reporter Hit by Police Fire Whilst Covering Violent LA Protests
