An 18-year-old University of Southern California freshman lost an eye after being struck by a projectile fired by a federal agent during a protest in downtown Los Angeles on March 28. The student, Tucker Collins, was photographing the "No Kings" march near the Metropolitan Detention Center when he was hit in the face, according to his attorney, V. James DeSimone.
Collins, who studies astronautical engineering, was documenting the demonstration as it moved along a sidewalk outside the federal facility. Video reviewed by his representatives shows him standing at the edge of the crowd and stepping aside for pedestrians while continuing to record the protest.
Attorneys allege a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agent fired a projectile that struck Collins in the face, "destroying his eyeball and fracturing the bones in his eye socket." DeSimone believes the object may have been a pepper ball, though this has not been independently verified. The incident occurred despite a federal injunction that prohibits firing such weapons at people’s heads.
DeSimone stated, "Tucker suffered a life-altering injury documenting a protest, not participating in violence. That should alarm anyone who cares about civil rights, press freedom, and accountability." He plans to file a federal tort claim against DHS on Collins’s behalf.
A DHS spokesperson responded, "The first amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly—not rioting. Our law enforcement has followed instructions." The agency did not directly address the allegations regarding Collins.
The incident has raised questions about the use of force by federal agents during protests and the enforcement of existing injunctions.