The stereotype of the TV news journalist as a prima donna with a massive fragrance collection, thanks in part to Anchorman, persists.

But the ones we've come to know are sharp as nails. And now some of them are, apparently, tough as them as well.

Take Leanne Suter, an ABC7 reporter doing a live weather “shot” over the weekend. And “shot” is a key word here:

She took a pellet to the hand. Live on-air. And ABC anchor John Hartung said “viewers could not tell” she was shot.

This all happened during the 6 p.m. newscast Saturday.

Some thunderstorms struck the Inland Empire, and Suter was on scene in … Fontana. Yeah, the city that's kind of like Southern California's Floroida — where all the crazy redneck shit happens.

Anyway, she was treated at a hospital and released. Fellow journalists tweeted up a storm about her Saturday night.

Two teens (not, apparently, Beavis & Butthead) were arrested. ABC7 stated the two were alleged firing a BB gun from a nearby backyard. It wasn't clear if they were targeting Suter or her news van, but the 16- and 17-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

They were released to their parents, and the San Bernardino County D.A. will decide whether to prosecute, according to City News Service.

KABC-TV president and general manager Arnold Kleiner released an ass-covering statement saying that station reporters “are very conscious of good safety practices” and “could not have anticipated that someone would decide to target them in this way.''

So, eh, nobody sue, nobody get hurt.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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