Student photojournalist shot in leg with projectile at LA protest

Student photojournalist Griffin O’Rourke was struck in the leg by a crowd-control munition while covering an immigration protest in Los Angeles, California, on June 14, 2025.

The protest in downtown LA was one of hundreds of “No Kings” demonstrations held nationwide to counter a military parade attended by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. It also followed days of protests in the city and nearby towns against recent federal raids, part of the Trump administration’s larger immigration crackdown.

After demonstrators clashed with LA law enforcement officers and federal agents, Trump called in the California National Guard and then the U.S. Marines over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. Trump’s deployment of federal troops to LA was ruled illegal by a federal judge on Sept. 2.

O’Rourke, on assignment for California State University Northridge’s multimedia publication the Daily Sundial, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he was taking pictures when a tear gas canister fired by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies landed near him.

“I got totally screwed up by the gas, and that’s when something hit me in the leg,” said O’Rourke, who wasn’t wearing a mask at the time and had to rinse the chemical irritant from his eyes.

O’Rourke isn’t sure what kind of crowd-control projectile hit his leg, but said it left a bruise. Later, he said, law enforcement aimed projectile launchers at him, even though he was wearing a helmet and badge identifying himself as a member of the press.

“A lot of the agents would raise up their less-lethal guns at me to try to let me know that, ‘We see you, and we might shoot you,’” 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.”