Fact check: Was an Australian reporter shot during the no King protests in America

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, yes, an Australian reporter was shot during protests in America, but there appears to be confusion about which specific protests. The incident involved Lauren Tomasi, a Nine News correspondent, who was shot with a rubber bullet by a police officer while covering protests in Los Angeles ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.

The shooting occurred during what sources describe as "LA riots" rather than specifically "No Kings" protests ^{[1] [2]}. Australia lodged a formal complaint regarding the incident, and the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting ^[3]. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made statements about the incident, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter ^[3].

Notably, sources covering the recent "No Kings" protests from June 15-16, 2025, make no mention of any Australian reporter being shot during those specific demonstrations ^{[5] [6] [7]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial specificity about which protests are being referenced. The analyses reveal that:

• The confirmed shooting of Lauren Tomasi occurred during LA riots/protests, not specifically during "No Kings" protests ^{[1] [2]}
• Media outlets used passive language when describing the incident, with experts criticizing this approach and calling for more direct reporting about police actions against journalists ^[8]
• The incident raised significant concerns about press freedom and journalist safety during civil unrest ^[8]
• Australian diplomatic channels were activated, with formal complaints lodged, indicating this was treated as a serious international incident ^{[1] [3]}

The "No Kings" protests mentioned in recent sources from June 2025 involved separate incidents, including a protester being shot and killed in Utah and lawmaker shootings in Minnesota, but no Australian reporter casualties were reported ^{[6] [7]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains potential inaccuracies by conflating different protest movements. The confirmed incident involving Lauren Tomasi occurred during LA riots, not during the recent "No Kings" protests specifically mentioned in the question (p1_s1, p1_s2 vs. p2_s1, p2_s2, p2_s3).

This conflation could stem from:

• Confusion between different protest movements and their timelines
• Lack of specific date references in the original question
• Mixing of separate incidents that occurred during different civil unrest events

The question's phrasing suggests these might be the same event when the evidence indicates they are distinct protest movements with different contexts and outcomes.