Teen Loses Eye After DHS Shooting At Protest

Lawyer says the 18-year-old college student was struck by a less-lethal projectile fired by a federal agent.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:05am

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An extreme close-up of a shattered eye lens reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the aftermath of a less-lethal projectile strike during a protest.A violent encounter between federal agents and protesters leaves a young activist with a devastating injury, sparking renewed calls for accountability and reform.Los Angeles Today

An 18-year-old college student attending a 'No Kings' protest in downtown Los Angeles 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. The teen's lawyer plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit on his behalf.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the use of force by federal agents against protesters and the press, with multiple court injunctions prohibiting the use of certain less-lethal weapons on crowds.

The details

Tucker Collins, a freshman at the University of Southern California, was at the March 28 protest to photograph the event when he was struck in the eye by a projectile that appeared to contain chemical irritants, according to his attorney V. James DeSimone. Doctors had to remove Collins' right eye due to his injuries.

  • The incident occurred at a 'No Kings' protest in downtown Los Angeles on March 28, 2026.
  • Doctors removed the teen's right eye as a result of his injuries.

The players

Tucker Collins

An 18-year-old college student at the University of Southern California who lost his right eye after being struck by a less-lethal projectile at a protest.

V. James DeSimone

The attorney representing Tucker Collins, who plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit on the teen's behalf.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency whose agent allegedly fired the less-lethal projectile that struck Tucker Collins in the eye.

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What they’re saying

“We've unfortunately seen in other instances where law enforcement has targeted the press with violence. Instead of targeting people who were throwing things into the crowd, they were targeting someone who was documenting and taking photos of the crowd.”

— V. James DeSimone, Attorney

“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. These less-lethal weapons are target specific and it's not like they're spraying it into the crowd and getting them to disperse. It's against policy and against the law to use them for crowd dispersal.”

— V. James DeSimone, Attorney

What’s next

DeSimone told the Times he plans on filing a federal civil rights lawsuit on Collins' behalf.

The takeaway

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the use of force by federal agents against protesters and the press, with multiple court injunctions prohibiting the use of certain less-lethal weapons on crowds. It raises questions about the appropriate use of force by law enforcement during demonstrations.