Yep.
O'Briant said that Nichols hit him with the gun once, knocking him down.
Oh ow!!! I hurt just looking at him. Poor man.
I think in the story posted re his experience, it noted that he [reporter] also ran into a dumpster trying to get away and went down a second time, before getting out onto the street. Probably explains some of his injuries.
BTW, in that story he talked about refusing the perp's order to get into his car's trunk. Smartest move he ever made!