Photographer Injured During LA Protest

In a disturbing incident, footage shows California police shooting a New York Post photographer in the head with a rubber bullet during a chaotic protest in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Toby Cansham, a photographer with experience covering events like these, was filming the interactions between officers and protesters when California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers unexpectedly aimed and opened fire from roughly 100 yards away.

Canham, 59, was hit in the forehead and collapsed almost immediately, as seen in the troubling video he recorded. He reportedly exclaimed, “f-k, f-k, I’ve just been shot in the head!”

This seasoned photographer, who is also a father of two, suffered significant bruising to his forehead and experienced neck pain and whiplash, necessitating a hospital visit. He described the moment, saying it was odd to go from shooting with his camera to being shot.

Canham noted, “I was the only person overlooking the highway where I was attacked. I was not surrounded, so I was an easy target.”

Before he was struck by the rubber bullet, a flashbang detonated nearby, causing debris to scatter and even leaving two holes in his pants. After that, he retreated in response to protesters throwing a water bottle at the police.

The situation in Los Angeles has grown increasingly tense in recent days, as law enforcement has clashed with protesters responding to measures taken by immigration and customs enforcement against undocumented immigrants.

Thousands of demonstrators took control of key highways in downtown LA, with some even setting fire to self-driving cars, creating surreal scenes against the chaos.

As traffic was halted, the CHP eventually forced the crowd onto an exit ramp. While Canham was photographing the scene, some protesters could be observed on an elevated platform near the highway, while law enforcement remained on the highway beneath it.

Since the violence escalated, protesters have hurled various objects, including bottles and rocks, toward the police.

Expressing his frustration, Cansham said, “That’s a real shame. I understand the risks, but I’m a bit mad about it because it wasn’t justified to aim at someone and pull the trigger.”

So far, the CHP has not commented on the incident, and the LAPD stated they would investigate further. The office of Governor Gavin Newsom declined to address the violence directed at journalists, while the mayor’s office also did not respond to requests for comment.

The unrest prompted Defense Secretary Pete Hegses to order 700 Marines to Los Angeles, joining 300 National Guard troops already deployed in the area to assist local authorities.