Freelance journalist targeted with crowd-control munitions at LA immigration protest

Freelance journalist Solomon O. Smith was struck multiple times with crowd-control munitions he said were deliberately fired at him by sheriff’s deputies while he covered a protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 14, 2025.

The protest was part of a wave of “No Kings” demonstrations held nationwide in opposition to President Donald Trump. It coincided with a military parade in Washington, D.C., where Trump led celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. In LA, tensions were already high following a series of aggressive immigration enforcement raids across Southern California.

During the demonstration, Smith was photographing Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies patrolling on trucks from several yards away when he noticed one aiming a weapon directly at him. Smith was clearly identifiable as press, wearing credentials and holding a large white camera lens.

Smith told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he instinctively turned his back to avoid being hit in the face or chest. Seconds later, a crowd-control munition slammed into his padded backpack, followed by additional rounds that struck his leg and rear. A gas canister then hit him directly in the lower back.

He said the impact dented the aluminum body of the laptop inside his backpack. One round left a “hand-sized bruise” on his right buttock.

Smith captured photos of deputies pointing before firing — aiming at specific individuals, including members of the press — often turning from the main part of the crowd to do so.

He showed the Tracker photos of what he said were two student journalists who had been struck in the arms by crowd-control projectiles, despite being clearly marked as press and standing apart from demonstrators.

“They were firing these things waist height, at people, right? That’s not from a bounce. That’s like a direct strike,” Smith said. “For them to turn and shoot at press was intentional; they had to shift to shoot at us most of the time.”

Smith said he saw other journalists who were injured during the protest, and recalled a piece of an overhead-exploding munition also struck him in the head, leaving a scab on his scalp. He captured a photo of the shrapnel falling into the crowd.

“It makes you, as a reporter, reevaluate how much danger you want to put yourself in. And you worry about other reporters too,” he said.

In a statement emailed to the Tracker on June 10, the Sheriff’s Department said it prioritizes maintaining access for credentialed media, “especially during emergencies and critical incidents.”

“The LASD does not condone any actions that intentionally target members of the press, and we continuously train our personnel to distinguish and respect the rights of clearly identified journalists in the field,” a public information officer wrote. “We remain open to working with all media organizations to improve communication, transparency, and safety for all parties during public safety operations.”