News Photographer Injured by Rubber Bullets While Covering L.A. Protest

Freelance Photographer Injured During Protest

• 📸 A freelance news photographer, Mario Guerrero, was severely injured while covering an anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles.
• 🤕 He was struck in the hand by what he states was a rubber bullet fired by a federal officer, resulting in a broken bone that requires surgery.
• 💼 Guerrero, a seasoned freelancer with 15 years of experience, was working for OC Hawk, a company that supplies footage to TV stations.

Incident Details and Media Identification

• 💥 The incident occurred outside the federal detention center amidst chaos and confrontations between protesters and officers in riot gear.
• ⚠️ Guerrero claims he and other photographers were following orders to stay to the side of the crowd when projectiles were fired.
• 🏷️ He asserts he clearly identified himself as a member of the press, wearing a vest with "MEDIA" in large letters, yet was still hit.

Impact and Call for Accountability

• 🚫 The injury will leave Guerrero out of work for approximately six weeks, unable to operate a camera.
• ⚖️ He is seeking accountability and believes there should be better training for crowd control, especially concerning members of the media.
• 🤝 A GoFundMe has been set up to help Guerrero with medical bills and living expenses during his recovery.
• 📞 KTLA reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment but had not received a response.