Reporter injured while dodging police munition at LA protest

Lexis-Olivier Ray, an investigative reporter with L.A. Taco, was targeted by a police officer who fired a crowd-control round during a “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2025.

Though the projectile missed him, Ray stumbled over a curb while dodging it and fell, sustaining bruises and scrapes to his side, hand, thumb and knee.

The police actions at the rally, one of thousands nationwide that day voicing opposition to the Trump administration, appeared to violate a state law prohibiting officers from firing munitions at members of the press.

It also seemed to flout a preliminary injunction issued earlier this fall that bars the Los Angeles Police Department during protests from restricting press access to areas that are not crime scenes.

After sunset that day, the LAPD issued dispersal orders, and mounted officers began pushing back the crowds, Ray told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.

He was wearing a shirt labeling him as press, along with a press badge, and standing with a small group of protesters and fellow journalists when an officer on foot fired a crowd-control projectile directly at him.

Video from the scene captured the shooting and another officer dismissively calling Ray “fake press” after the incident. LAPD said in a statement Oct. 21 that it was investigating all use-of-force incidents from Oct. 18 and could not comment on active investigations.

“It was probably some of the most significant injuries I’ve suffered while covering protests,” commented Ray, who said his thumb is still swollen from bearing the brunt of his fall and is difficult to move.

In another video posted that night, a mounted journalist charged at Ray, who identified himself as a member of the media. The officer responded, “It doesn’t matter.”

Ray was also denied access to large portions of the street near the Metropolitan Detention Center, after officers had designated the area an incident command post. In one video, Ray asked an officer why the street was blocked off and reminded him that he is a member of the press.

“Nobody can walk through here,” the officer replied.

When Ray asked why the road was closed, the officer replied, “We say so, that’s why.”

Ray asked to speak to a police supervisor, as outlined in state law and the federal judge’s preliminary injunction, but was ignored.

“It’s extremely discouraging to see that even after these court orders and state laws, the LAPD continues to violate our rights as members of the press,” he told the Tracker. “I’ve had to remind myself that state law or a judge’s order isn’t necessarily going to keep you safe. The police are going to do what they want and face consequences later.”

During anti-deportation protests over the summer, Ray was shoved by a police officer and blocked from filming, struck with pepper balls by federal law enforcement (over which he later sued), and searched by a sheriff’s deputy.

The Tracker has documented other incidents in which Ray, covering protests and gatherings in LA, was shoved, detained, tackled and struck with a baton.