USC Freshman Suffers Permanent Eye Injury at Los Angeles Protest
An 18-year-old college student attending a recent "No Kings" protest in downtown Los Angeles has lost his right eye after being struck in the face by a less-lethal projectile, allegedly fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent, according to his attorney. Tucker Collins, a freshman at the University of Southern California, was photographing the March 28 gathering when he was hit by a projectile that appeared to contain chemical irritants, as reported by his lawyer, V. James DeSimone, to the Los Angeles Times.
Attorney Alleges Targeting of Press and Unjustified Force
DeSimone expressed grave concerns about law enforcement tactics, stating, "We've unfortunately seen in other instances where law enforcement has targeted the press with violence." He emphasized that Collins was documenting the event rather than engaging in any disruptive behavior, adding, "Instead of targeting people who were throwing things into the crowd, they were targeting someone who was documenting and taking photos of the crowd." The DHS has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.
Doctors were forced to remove Collins' right eye due to the severity of his injuries, and the teen is reportedly too unwell to be interviewed. DeSimone plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit on Collins' behalf, noting that his law firm has represented at least 15 individuals allegedly injured by federal or local agents at demonstrations since last June.
Legal and Policy Violations Highlighted
DeSimone criticized the use of less-lethal weapons in this context, arguing, "They're able to protect themselves in many different ways. There was no imminent threat to those officers, and it's upsetting to see the level of violence." He pointed out that such weapons are intended for specific targets and not for crowd dispersal, stating, "It's against policy and against the law to use them for crowd dispersal."
This incident occurs against a backdrop of federal judicial actions, with multiple preliminary injunctions issued to prohibit Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using tear gas, pepper-ball munitions, and other less-lethal projectiles on protesters. The case underscores ongoing tensions between protest rights and law enforcement practices in urban settings.
