AP Photographer Hit by Bullet Fragments as Haitian Senator Fired Gun to Get Rid of Crowd

Another reminder of just how dangerous photography journalism can be: An Associated Press photographer on assignment in Haiti was injured by bullet fragments fired from a senator’s gun that was being used to disperse a gathered crowd.

Chery Dieu-Nalio got hit in the face with pieces of bullets, PetaPixel reports, while Haitian senator Ralph Fethiere fired shots into the air to scare away a crowd gathered at the Parliament building in the capital of Port-au-Prince.

The senators were gathered to choose a prime minister for the country when a protest broke out. According to reports on the situation, the crowd attempted to remove the senator and his entourage from the building at which point he fired his gun into the air.

For his part, senator Ralph Fethiere referred to the people who tried to as “violent militants.” During this whole thing, fragments hit the photographer in the jaw and Chery Dieu-Nalio was then whisked away to a hospital. Although he is likely shaken, the photographer seems to be in good spirits according to a Facebook post.

Dieu-Nalio writes, “Thanks everyone who support me in this moment. Doctors say that am not at big risk. They will remove the bullet soon. I can't speak so much, need some rest.”

Of the incident, Associated Press Director of Media Relations Lauren Easton said that it is “a reminder of the danger journalists around the world face every day while doing their jobs, even on a routine assignment.”

For us in the photography world, it just reminds us of how dangerous things can be for some of us out there.

What do you think? Is the world becoming a more dangerous place for photo journalists or has it always been that way? We’d love to know what you think in the comments below.

Also, check out some other photography news articles on Light Stalking by clicking here.

[PetaPixel]