A young university student declared that lost an eye after being hit by a non-lethal projectile during the No Kings demonstration on March 28 in downtown Los Angeles.
Tucker Collins, 18, attended the protest and was among people gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center to demonstrate against the Trump administration’s immigration raids.
After the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) issued a notice of an illegal assembly and ordered the removal of protesters, tension increased between the group of protesters and police officers.
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In a video recorded with a phone, a passerby caught Collins holding a camera while documenting the protest.
According to Collins, at that time he was not resisting the eviction nor was he protesting when he suddenly fell to the ground after being hit in the face by a non-lethal projectile. allegedly shot by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents.
“He was holding his camera when, without warning, was shot in the eye with what we believe was a pepper bullet, a less lethal projectile, fired by a DHS agent from the other side of the fence, and immediately fell to the ground,” said Collins’ attorney, James Desimone.
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Several passersby helped the young university student, who was transferred to a successfully being facility to receive medical attention for his injury.
“He was diagnosed with a fracture in the orbital wall and a rupture of the eyeball, so they had to surgically remove his eye“Explained the university student’s lawyer.
As a consequence of the impact of the less lethal projectile, The 18-year-old was blinded in his right eye.
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Collins’ attorney said the actions of federal agents on the night of March 28 revealed a growing pattern of unnecessary use of force against the protesters, who are exercising their rights protected by the First Amendment.
“It’s very alarming. There is a federal court order against DHS that prohibits them from shooting at the head of anyone in the crowdbut they are violating that order with total impunity,” Desimone declared.
Collins and his lawyer They plan to file a lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Actin which they request monetary compensation from the United States government for injuries caused by negligence.
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“The Department of Homeland Security is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law.” and protect our officers and the public from dangerous troublemakers“DHS said in a statement related to the incident.
“Our law enforcement agencies have continued their training and have used the minimum force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property. “Seven warnings were issued before deploying crowd control measures,” DHS added.
The freshman at the University of Southern California mentioned that He is trying to adapt to his new reality of life without the ability to see clearly.
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“His specialty is aeronautical engineering with a minor in cinematographic arts. Photography is one of his passionsas well as the making of short films. “He is doing everything possible not to lose his place at the university, but it is costing him a lot,” his lawyer said.
Collins incident comes after other similar cases that happened during protests against immigration raids in Southern California.
Among the cases is that of Jasmín Rojas, who received on January 30 a shot from a non-lethal projectile during a protest in Los Angeles; that of Jesús Gómez Islas, who claims $100 million dollars after being blinded in one eye, and that of a photographer who suffered a fracture after the impact of a projectile.
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Kaden Rummler, 21, He lost sight in one eye as a result of the impact of a less lethal projectile. during an anti-ICE demonstration on January 9 in the city of Santa Ana, Orange County.
Keep reading:
· DHS appeals judge’s decision rejecting deportation of a gardener in Orange
· Activists and family members serenade immigrants at the ICE detention center in Adelanto
· Activist sues Los Angeles police for assault during protest
