College Student Suffers Eye Loss After DHS Clash at ‘No Kings’ Protest, Attorney Claims
An 18-year-old college student attending the “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles suffered a devastating injury when a less-lethal projectile struck him in the face, resulting in the loss of his right eye, according to statements from his attorney.
Tucker Collins, a freshman at the University of Southern California, was present at the March 28 event to document the gathering through photography. His attorney, V. James DeSimone, revealed that the projectile appeared to contain chemical irritants, leading to the severe injury.
“We’ve seen instances where law enforcement has targeted the press with violence,” DeSimone remarked, emphasizing the troubling trend. “Instead of addressing those throwing objects into the crowd, they focused on someone simply documenting the event.”
As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not provided any comments regarding the incident. Reports indicate that doctors had to remove Collins’ right eye due to the extent of his injuries. The young man was reportedly too unwell to participate in an interview.
DeSimone confirmed plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Collins. He highlighted that his law firm has represented at least 15 individuals who claim to have been injured by federal or local agents during protests since last June.
“They have various means to protect themselves,” DeSimone stated, expressing concern over the use of force. “There was no imminent threat to those officers, and it’s disheartening to witness such violence. These less-lethal weapons are supposed to be target-specific; they shouldn’t be used indiscriminately against crowds.”
Legal precedents exist, as federal judges have issued multiple preliminary injunctions that restrict Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from deploying tear gas, pepper-ball munitions, and other less-lethal projectiles against protesters.
