LA police filmed shooting woman point-blank with ‘less lethal’ round

Law enforcement officers have shot a woman with what appears to be “less lethal” ammunition at close range while she was walking alone near her residence in Los Angeles, new footage shot during the recent protests reveals.

The video, which was taken by another woman and shared on social media, shows the woman walking down a street alone. A line of law enforcement officers appear to tell her to leave the area.

Moments later there is a loud bang as one of the officers appears to fire at the woman, who steps back after being hit and staggers away.

Later she can be heard saying: “I live here.”

The woman who filmed the incident runs to the victim, who is crying, and helps her sit down before moving across the street as the officers continue to shout orders. “They literally just shot her point-blank,” the woman filming says.

The Los Angeles police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday morning.

“Less than lethal”, “non-lethal” or “less lethal” munitions – such as rubber, plastic or sponge bullets, and pepper balls – are sometimes deployed in the US by law enforcement during protests to disperse crowds. Despite the name, these munitions have caused serious injury and death in the past.

During the current protests in Los Angeles, law enforcement officers have fired flashbangs, teargas and rubber bullets, while other news outlets have also reported the use of pepper balls.

On Sunday, the Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi from Nine News was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet while reporting live from the protests.

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In a statement, Nine News said Tomasi was “struck by a rubber bullet” and said that she and her camera operator “are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events”.

“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,” the network added.