Chaos. That’s usually the first thing people forget when they’re dissecting a police shooting from the comfort of a living room couch months after the fact. But on a humid night in April 2023, for a local journalist working the night shift, chaos became a physical reality. When we talk about a news reporter shot by LAPD, we aren't just talking about a headline or a "police involved shooting" statistic. We are talking about a fundamental breakdown in the protocols meant to protect the First Amendment during active tactical operations.
It happened fast. One minute, there’s a perimeter. The next, a flash, a bang, and a person whose job it is to document the truth is bleeding on the pavement.
Honestly, the details are messy. They always are. Law enforcement officials often point to the "fog of war" during high-pressure barricade situations, while civil rights advocates point to a pattern of aggressive tactics that don’t seem to care if you have a press badge or a brick in your hand. This specific incident involving a reporter being struck by a projectile—often labeled as "less-lethal"—reopened a massive wound in the relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department and the media.
The Night the News Reporter Shot by LAPD Became the Story
The incident didn't happen in a vacuum. It occurred during a period of heightened tension in Los Angeles, where the LAPD was already under fire for its handling of protests and public demonstrations.
On this particular night, officers were responding to a domestic violence call that escalated into a barricaded suspect situation. Standard procedure. The area was taped off. Reporters, including the one who would eventually be struck, were positioned behind what they believed was a safe line. But safe is a relative term when the 40mm foam baton launchers come out.
The reporter, a veteran of the local beat, was clearly marked. We’re talking a high-visibility vest, a professional-grade camera, and a press credential dangling from their neck. Yet, as the tactical unit moved to reposition, an officer discharged a less-lethal round. It hit the reporter in the leg.
It wasn't a bullet in the traditional sense, but if you think "less-lethal" means "painless," you've never seen the hematomas these things leave behind. They can break bones. They can kill if they hit the temple or the throat. In this case, it was a direct hit that sent the journalist to the ground.
What the LAPD Claims Happened
According to the department's internal Force Investigation Division, the officer wasn't aiming for the press. The official narrative—which is often the only one we get for months—suggested that a "perceived threat" near the reporter caused the officer to discharge the weapon. Basically, they say someone else was throwing something, or someone else looked like they were reaching for a weapon, and the reporter just happened to be in the line of fire.
The LAPD’s manual on less-lethal force is actually pretty specific. It says officers should avoid firing into crowds and should definitely avoid hitting non-combative bystanders. But "should" is a very flexible word in the heat of a 2 a.m. standoff.
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Why This Specific Case Matters for the First Amendment
This isn't just about one bruised leg or a broken camera. It’s about the "chilling effect."
If you're a young freelancer or a veteran staffer and you know that being a news reporter shot by LAPD is a genuine possibility—even if you're following every rule in the book—you might think twice about getting the close-up shot. You might stay a block further back. And when the press stays a block further back, the public sees less of what the government is doing.
That’s the core of the legal battle that followed. The lawsuit filed by the journalist didn't just ask for medical bills; it alleged a violation of Fourth Amendment rights against excessive force and First Amendment rights to document the police.
- The "Green Vest" Protection: In California, Senate Bill 98 was supposed to prevent this. It’s a law that specifically prohibits police from obstructing or assaulting journalists during protests or scenes of civil unrest.
- The Tactical Reality: Despite the law, many officers on the ground claim they can't distinguish between a reporter and a protester in the dark, especially when things get "dynamic."
- The Fallout: Every time this happens, it costs taxpayers millions in settlements. The LAPD’s payout history for incidents involving journalists and protesters is staggering, often reaching into the high seven figures.
The Problem with "Less-Lethal" Weapons
We need to talk about the 40mm launcher. It looks like a chunky grenade launcher. It fires a sponge or foam projectile about the size of a lemon.
The manufacturers call them "compliance tools."
But medical experts, like those from Physicians for Human Rights, have repeatedly warned that these weapons are frequently misused. They are meant to be skipped off the ground or aimed at large muscle groups like the thighs. However, in the case of the news reporter shot by LAPD, the trajectory was direct.
When you look at the body-worn camera footage—and the LAPD is usually forced to release this within 45 days due to city policy—the "perceived threat" is often hard to spot. You see a lot of shouting, a lot of flashlights cutting through the dark, and then the "thump" of the launcher.
Breaking Down the Body Cam Evidence
In this specific 2023 incident, the footage showed the reporter standing still. They weren't running. They weren't shouting. They were looking through a viewfinder.
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The officer’s camera shows him tracking a group of individuals. He fires. The reporter drops. The most telling part of these videos is often the audio after the shot. You hear the confusion. Sometimes you hear an officer realize they hit the wrong person. Other times, it's just cold silence as they continue their advance.
Misconceptions About Media Rights at Crime Scenes
A lot of people think having a press pass gives you a "god mode" pass to go anywhere. It doesn’t.
If the police establish a crime scene, you can't cross the yellow tape. If you do, you're subject to arrest for resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer (Penal Code 148). However, the law is very clear that if the media is in a place where the general public is allowed to be, or if they are in an area that has been cleared of the general public but remains a public space, they have a right to stay and record.
The "you have to leave because we declared an unlawful assembly" command usually doesn't apply to the press in California because of the aforementioned SB 98. But try explaining that to a line of officers in riot gear who have been on shift for 14 hours. It rarely goes well.
The Long-Term Impact on LA Journalism
The relationship between the LAPD and the press corps is, frankly, at an all-time low. After the incidents at Echo Park Lake and the 2020 protests, this shooting felt like a breaking point for many local outlets.
Small, independent journalists are the ones who feel it most. Large outlets like the LA Times or the local ABC affiliate have high-priced lawyers on retainer. They can file an injunction by morning. The independent "stringer"—the person who is actually out there at 3 a.m. catching the news reporter shot by LAPD footage—is the one who ends up with a medical bill they can't pay and a broken lens that represents their entire livelihood.
What Needs to Change?
Is it more training? Probably. But the LAPD already has "media relations" training.
The real shift likely needs to be in accountability. Historically, officers who strike journalists with less-lethal rounds rarely face serious internal discipline. It’s usually chalked up to an "accidental discharge" or a "tactical necessity." Until the department treats a strike on a journalist as a major failure of tactical discipline, it’s going to keep happening.
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I’ve talked to people who work in the department. Off the record, some of them are just as frustrated. They feel they’re being put in impossible situations with tools that aren't as "precise" as the marketing brochures claim.
Actionable Steps for Journalists and Observers
If you find yourself documenting a police action in Los Angeles, there are specific things you can do to mitigate—though sadly not eliminate—the risk of being the next news reporter shot by LAPD.
- Don't just wear a badge; wear a "PRESS" placard. In low-light environments, a 2x3 inch ID card is invisible. You need large, reflective lettering on your chest and back.
- Maintain "The Buffer." Stay behind the first line of observers if possible. If the police move, you move. Never let yourself get sandwiched between a retreating crowd and an advancing skirmish line.
- Livestream if you can. If your gear is seized or broken, the footage is already in the cloud. This has been the deciding factor in several recent civil rights settlements.
- Know your rights (SB 98). Keep a digital copy of the California Penal Code sections regarding the press on your phone. It won't stop a foam baton, but it helps at the precinct.
The reality is that being a journalist in a major city like Los Angeles is increasingly becoming a high-risk occupation. The line between the "observer" and the "participant" is being blurred by the very people sworn to protect the constitutional rights of both.
Until there is a drastic overhaul in how less-lethal force is deployed against non-threatening individuals, we will continue to see these "accidents" happen. The cost is too high—not just in terms of the millions of dollars in settlements, but in the slow erosion of a free press that is able to hold power accountable without fear of a projectile to the ribs.
If you are following this story, the next thing to watch for is the civilian oversight board's report on tactical deployments. Those meetings are open to the public, and they are where the real policy changes—or lack thereof—actually happen. Stay informed, stay vocal, and if you're out there on the streets, stay safe.
The documentation of these events is what keeps the system even remotely honest. When the cameras stop rolling because the people holding them are being targeted, we all lose.
Key Resources for Further Reading:
- California Senate Bill 98: The full text of the law protecting journalists at protest sites.
- LAPD Manual Section 556.10: Policy regarding the use of less-lethal force.
- First Amendment Coalition: Practical guides for journalists facing police interference.
Immediate Actions for Concerned Citizens:
- Monitor the Police Commission: Attend the weekly Los Angeles Police Commission meetings (virtually or in person) to voice concerns about media safety protocols.
- Support Independent Media: Help fund the legal defense of independent journalists who lack the corporate backing to fight back against unlawful force.
- Contact Your Reps: If you believe the current "less-lethal" guidelines are insufficient, contact the Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee to demand stricter oversight on 40mm launcher deployment.