USC Student Blinded by DHS Officer at 'No Kings' Rally

Lawyers plan to file federal claim against Homeland Security over incident

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:53am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered camera lens, the glass cracked and distorted, reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the violence inflicted on a peaceful protester documenting a demonstration.A shattered camera lens reflects the harsh aftermath of a federal agent's violent response to a peaceful protest.Los Angeles Today

Attorneys representing a USC student shot and blinded by a Department of Homeland Security officer at a 'No Kings' rally in Los Angeles announced plans to file a federal claim against the agency, the first step in filing a federal civil rights lawsuit. Tucker Collins was shot with a projectile fired by a DHS officer and blinded in his right eye while taking a video of the rally, according to his attorney V. James DeSimone.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and protesters, as well as concerns over the use of force by federal agents against civilians during demonstrations. It also raises questions about accountability and oversight of federal agencies like Homeland Security.

The details

According to DeSimone, Collins was simply documenting the protest at the Metropolitan Detention Center when he was shot and blinded. Homeland Security claimed a group of about 1,000 protesters surrounded the Roybal Federal Building and 'threw rocks, bottles, and cement blocks at officers,' but DeSimone stated there was no way Collins was a danger to anyone. DeSimone's law firm has represented at least 15 people allegedly injured by federal or local agents during protests since last June.

  • On March 28, Tucker Collins was shot and blinded at the 'No Kings' rally in downtown Los Angeles.
  • On April 15, 2026, DeSimone announced plans to file a federal tort claim against Homeland Security, the first step in a federal civil rights lawsuit.

The players

Tucker Collins

An 18-year-old USC student who was shot and blinded in his right eye by a Department of Homeland Security officer while documenting a 'No Kings' rally in Los Angeles.

V. James DeSimone

The attorney representing Tucker Collins who announced plans to file a federal claim against Homeland Security.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency whose officer shot and blinded Tucker Collins during the 'No Kings' rally in Los Angeles.

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What they’re saying

“There was no way in which I was a danger to anyone. There's no way in which I was doing anything at all except just taking photos, taking videos.”

— Tucker Collins

“Here was an 18-year-old college student standing back and documenting what was happening when a DHS officer shot him in the eye and changed his life forever. The law does not allow federal officers to permanently maim someone who is peacefully documenting a public protest and expect no accountability. And neither should the public.”

— V. James DeSimone, Attorney

What’s next

DeSimone announced that his firm filed a federal tort claim against Homeland Security, the first step in filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the agency. The amount of damages he may seek was not disclosed.

The takeaway

This incident highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and protesters, as well as concerns over the use of force by federal agents against civilians during demonstrations. It raises questions about accountability and oversight of federal agencies like Homeland Security, and whether they are properly trained and equipped to handle large-scale protests.