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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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A video posted on social media shows a Los Angeles police officer appearing to shoot a "less lethal" round at close range toward a man asking his name and badge number.
"This psycho shot me in the groin twice with 40mm munitions because I asked him for his name (which was ripped off of his helmet) after he shot others in the groin at close range too," Shakeer Rahman wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside the minute-long clip, on Tuesday.
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In the clip, a man can be heard repeatedly asking the officer for his badge number.
The man also says that he is behind glass, which can be seen in the foreground of the video.
"I'm gonna pop you right now because you're taking up my focus," the officer says moments before firing.
Newsweek has not independently verified the video. Newsweek has contacted Rahman and the Los Angeles Police Department for comment outside regular business hours.
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Why It Matters
Law enforcement in Los Angeles have been deploying "less lethal" munitions against crowds protesting President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
The Los Angeles Police Department has been using foam rounds, Reuters reported. One version is fired from a 40mm launcher and usually aimed directly at a target, while a second version is fired from a 37mm launcher and disperses five foam rounds towards the ground once an unlawful assembly has been declared but is not to be fired directly at people. Officers are forbidden from aiming sponge rounds at the head, neck, groin and spine.
Less-lethal weapons are designed to cause pain and discomfort, but can cause devastating injuries or death, especially when fired at close range.
Last year, a protester who suffered a testicle injury after an LAPD officer shot him with a foam projectile during a 2020 demonstration received a $1.5 million settlement from the city.
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What To Know
In another video posted by Rahman, the officer appears to fire at him again after repeatedly being asked for his name and badge number.
"So what's your badge number? Huh? What is it?" Rahman says in the clip. "It's a simple question. What's your last name?"
The officer replies: "I'm gonna hit you with this 40 again."
Rahman again asks: "What's your last name? I'm not threatening you. I'm asking you what your name is. You're a police officer. What is your name?"
The officer says: "I'm telling you, I'm going to hit you again... keep walking."
As Rahman keeps asking for his name, the officer again opens fire.
It wasn't clear exactly where the incident took place but it came as leaders in Los Angeles imposed a downtown curfew on the fifth day of protests on Tuesday. Police made arrests moments after it took effect and officers used crowd control projectiles to break up hundreds who were protesting, The Associated Press reported.
Trump has activated more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines over the objects of city and state leaders. Members of the National Guard stood watch behind plastic shields and did not appear to participate in arrests on Tuesday and Marines were not seen on the streets on Tuesday, according to the AP.
What People Are Saying
The Los Angeles Police Department warned people to avoid the area of Alameda between Aliso and Temple streets in downtown Los Angeles in a post on X on Tuesday night: "The use of less lethal munitions has been authorized. Less lethal munitions may cause pain and discomfort. A DISPERSAL Order has been issued."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X on Tuesday night: "I issued a curfew starting tonight at 8pm for Downtown Los Angeles to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President's chaotic escalation. If you do not live or work in Downtown L.A., avoid the area. Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted."
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that protesters "were met with heavy force and they folded and they may be there a little bit tonight, they may be there a little bit but it seems to be getting less and less because they're going there and they're met with a very heavy force and if they weren't, you would have that city right now would be on fire, it would be burning down."
What's Next
Protests against immigration enforcement have spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas, Chicago and New York.
The Trump administration has said it would continue its program of raids and deportations despite the protests.
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