Post photographer shot in the head with rubber bullet in LA anti-ICE riots — and he caught the terrifying moment on camera
Harrowing footage captured the moment California police shot a New York Post photographer in the head with a rubber bullet during Los Angeles' violent protest Sunday evening.
Toby Canham, who was on assignment for The Post and standing just off the 101 Freeway at an elevated level, was filming video of the chaos between cops and rioters when a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer suddenly turned his weapon toward him and fired from about 100 yards away.
Veteran photographer Toby Canham caught the moment he was struck by a rubber bullet while covering the Los Angeles riots Sunday evening.
Toby Canham for NY Post
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Canham, 59, who was wearing his press pass, was struck in the forehead and quickly fell to the ground, according to the disturbing footage he captured.
'F–k, f–k, I just got shot in the head!' the dad of two can be heard screaming from behind the camera.
The veteran photographer, who served in the British Army and is based out of LA, spent Monday at the hospital for whiplash and neck pain. He was left with a giant bruise on his forehead.
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'When I got whacked, to my best recollection it was just me filming with my cameras on and then I got shot,' said Canham.
'Where I was hit, I was the only person overlooking the freeway. I wasn't surrounded so I was an easy target.'
Before he was hit with the rubber bullet, a flashbang initially exploded a few feet from him, causing shrapnel to kick up and leave two holes in his pants.
He then saw someone to his left throw a water bottle filled with a liquid at authorities and then retreat, which led him to start recording with his camera 20 seconds before he was struck.
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Canham was injured by authorities the same day an Australian news reporter was also shot with a rubber bullet while reporting live from the scene.
Law enforcement has clashed with violent protesters over the last few days of unrest in response to actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement against illegal migrants in the city.
Thousands of anti-ICE protesters took over the major highway in downtown Los Angeles as rioters lit self-driving cars on fire Sunday in a surreal scene.
While traffic was blocked on both lanes of the freeway, the crowd was eventually forced onto an exit ramp by CHP.
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Canham, a dad of two, suffered a massive bruise on his forehead and whiplash.
Toby Canham for NY Post
While Canham was taking photos, protesters could be seen standing on the sides of the elevated platform next to the freeway while law enforcement was still on the highway and sheltered under an overpass.
Rioters have thrown various items, including water bottles and rocks at law enforcement, since the violence erupted.
'It's a real shame. I completely understand being in the position where you could get injured but at the same time there was no justification for even aiming the rifle at me and pulling the trigger so I'm a bit pissed off about that to be honest,' Canham said, noting he could have lost an eye or some teeth.
CHP did not immediately return an email seeking comment. LAPD said, 'There is no comment, the incident needs to be investigated.'
Gov. Gavin Newsom's office also declined comment on the violence against a journalist and referred The Post to law enforcement on the ground. The Los Angeles mayor's office did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
The turmoil has become so volatile that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered 700 Marines to Los Angeles to back up the 300 National Guard troops on the ground already and local authorities.
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