A Dominican reporter has spoken out about a frightening safety incident that unfolded while she was covering civil unrest in the greater Santo Domingo area, highlighting the growing risks frontline journalists face when reporting on public protests. Anny Toribio Reynoso was on assignment documenting demonstrations in the Herrera neighborhood of Santo Domingo Oeste. The protests had erupted after Darlin Mercado, a young local man, lost his life during an active police operation in the community.
In a public social media post detailing her experience, Toribio Reynoso recounted the chaotic moments that put her and other fellow reporters in grave danger. After hours of unrest, the protest had finally been de-escalated: demonstrators had dispersed from the area, and public order had been largely restored by responding law enforcement officers. Believing the zone immediately surrounding police personnel had become the safest location to continue their on-site recording and reporting, Toribio Reynoso and the other journalists moved closer to the officers’ position.
It was at this moment that one officer with the Dominican National Police discharged his service weapon, an incident the journalist described as accidental. According to her account, the shot was the result of improper handling of the firearm by the officer. The unexpected gunfire immediately sent waves of panic through the small group of press personnel and other bystanders remaining in the area. Toribio Reynoso emphasized that the accidental discharge put not only the officer himself at risk, but also every journalist working the scene, a reality that has left her deeply concerned about protocol for law enforcement engagement with media during public demonstrations. She has publicly called into question the training and weapon handling practices of the officer involved, raising broader questions about police accountability and journalist safety during coverage of civil unrest in the country.