An 18-year-old University of Southern California student has lost vision in one eye after being struck by a less-lethal projectile fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent during a downtown Los Angeles march last month.
Tucker Collins, a freshman, was documenting the No Kings demonstration on March 28 when the incident occurred, according to his attorney V James DeSimone. The march drew crowds protesting Trump administration policies.
DeSimone characterized the shooting as an "overt act of repression" in a statement released Wednesday. The attorney's framing suggests the incident reflects broader concerns about how federal agents interact with people exercising First Amendment rights at protests.
Collins was among hundreds of demonstrators in the downtown area that day. His presence as a photographer places him among those documenting events rather than solely participating as a protester, though the distinction appears not to have affected his encounter with the agent.
The use of less-lethal projectiles at protests has become increasingly scrutinized, particularly when applied to bystanders, legal observers, or journalists covering demonstrations. The permanent injury Collins sustained underscores questions about oversight and training in how such weapons are deployed in crowd situations.
The incident adds to a growing record of complaints involving federal law enforcement responses to protests in major U.S. cities. DHS has not publicly commented on the incident or Collins's injuries.
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