USC Freshman Loses Eye After DHS Shooting at Protest

Lawyers say they'll file federal civil rights lawsuit over injury at No Kings rally in downtown LA.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:12am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered eye lens, capturing the dramatic texture and material details in stark, dramatic lighting to conceptually illustrate the injury sustained by a protester.A shattered eye lens reflects the harsh realities of protest policing and the ongoing debate over the use of less-lethal munitions.Los Angeles Today

An 18-year-old USC freshman lost his eye after being struck by what his attorney says was a less-lethal round fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent during a No Kings protest in downtown Los Angeles. The student, Tucker Collins, was near the federal Metropolitan Detention Center when he was hit in the face, requiring surgery to remove his eye. His lawyer plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit over the incident.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns over the use of less-lethal munitions by federal agents at protests, with courts already issuing injunctions limiting when and how these weapons can be deployed. Collins' injury is the latest in a series of similar complaints about protesters sustaining life-altering harm from crowd control projectiles in Southern California.

The details

According to the student's attorney, V. James DeSimone, Collins was near the federal Metropolitan Detention Center last Saturday when he was struck in the eye by what appeared to be a less-lethal round containing chemical irritants, fired by a Department of Homeland Security agent. Collins received initial treatment at the scene before being taken to a hospital, where surgeons had to remove his eye.

  • The incident occurred on March 28 during a No Kings protest in downtown Los Angeles.
  • Collins underwent surgery to remove his eye following the incident.

The players

Tucker Collins

An 18-year-old USC freshman who was struck in the eye by a less-lethal round while photographing a protest.

V. James DeSimone

The attorney representing Tucker Collins, who plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit over the incident.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency whose agent allegedly fired the less-lethal round that struck Collins.

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What they’re saying

“We've unfortunately seen in other instances where law enforcement has targeted the press with violence.”

— V. James DeSimone, Attorney

What’s next

DeSimone says he plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking to hold the responsible officers and agencies accountable for Collins' injury.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate over the use of less-lethal munitions by law enforcement at protests, with courts already imposing restrictions on their deployment. The outcome of any civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of Tucker Collins could set new precedents for accountability and policy changes around these crowd control weapons.