USC Student Loses Eye After Being Hit by Less-Lethal Round at Protest

Tucker Collins, 18, was documenting a rally outside a federal detention center when he was struck, sparking calls for investigations into federal use of force.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:26pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered eye lens, reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the injury suffered by a student documenting a protest against federal authorities.A shattered eye lens reflects the harsh reality of federal law enforcement's use of less-lethal weapons against protesters.Los Angeles Today

An 18-year-old USC student named Tucker Collins was struck in the eye by a less-than-lethal round while documenting a protest outside a federal detention center in Los Angeles. Collins underwent surgery but ultimately lost his eye, and his attorney is now calling for investigations into the incident and broader use of less-than-lethal weapons by federal authorities.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing tensions over the use of less-than-lethal weapons by federal law enforcement during protests, with courts issuing injunctions against firing them at close range or targeting sensitive areas of the body. However, federal agencies like DHS have obtained stays on some of those injunctions, continuing to use these weapons for crowd control despite concerns over their safety and potential for causing serious injury.

The details

According to Collins and his attorneys, the student was simply using his camera to document the No Kings Day rallies outside the Federal Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles when he was struck in the eye, likely by an FN 303 less-than-lethal round fired by DHS officers. Collins underwent surgery for two hours but ultimately lost his eye due to the injury. DHS has defended its actions, claiming its officers used the "minimum amount of force necessary" after issuing warnings and facing a crowd of 1,000 "rioters" who were allegedly throwing rocks, bottles, and cement blocks at officers.

  • On March 28, Tucker Collins was struck in the eye during the No Kings Day protest outside the Federal Detention Center in Los Angeles.
  • On April 16, Collins and his attorneys held a news conference to discuss the incident and call for investigations.

The players

Tucker Collins

An 18-year-old USC student who was struck in the eye by a less-than-lethal round while documenting a protest outside a federal detention center in Los Angeles.

V. James de Simone

The attorney representing Tucker Collins, who is calling for state and local officials to investigate the incident and the broader use of less-than-lethal weapons by federal authorities.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency whose officers allegedly fired the less-than-lethal round that struck Tucker Collins, and which has defended its use of force during the protest, claiming its officers used the "minimum amount of force necessary" after facing a crowd of "rioters."

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What’s next

Collins' attorney, V. James de Simone, is asking for state and local officials to investigate this incident and the "other attacks on citizens" by federal authorities. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, they are seeking $100 million from the government in a tort claim.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate over the use of less-than-lethal weapons by federal law enforcement during protests, with concerns over their safety and potential for causing serious injury. It also raises questions about the appropriate use of force by authorities and the need for greater accountability and oversight when it comes to the deployment of these weapons.