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DHS agent's less-lethal projectile destroyed USC student's eye as he documented Los Angeles 'No Kings' protest

On March 28, 2026, a Department of Homeland Security agent fired a less-lethal projectile that struck USC freshman Tucker Collins in his right eye as he documented a "No Kings" protest outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. The projectile destroyed his eyeball and fractured the bones in his eye socket; doctors surgically removed his eye. Collins, who was photographing the protest from behind a barrier and separated from agents, said he heard no warnings before the shot; DHS maintained that seven warnings were issued before crowd-control measures were deployed.

Jurisdiction
Federal
Location
Los Angeles, California

Abuses documented

Actors

On March 28, 2026, a Department of Homeland Security agent fired a less-lethal projectile at Tucker Collins, an 18-year-old USC freshman, as he documented a "No Kings" protest outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. The projectile struck Collins in his right eye, destroying his eyeball and fracturing the bones in his eye socket. A nurse at the protest helped him with the wound; Collins was transported to the hospital where doctors were unable to save the eye and surgically removed it.

Collins was not participating as a protester. He had followed the demonstration to the detention center with the intention of documenting it, given his interest in photography and short films. A tall black metal barrier separated the crowd from law enforcement agents, and Collins remained behind the front lines of the protest — still he was struck. He said he heard no warning before being hit. DHS stated that officers issued seven warnings before deploying crowd-control measures and that rioters had thrown rocks, bottles, and cement blocks at officers; the agency said it used "the minimum amount of force necessary." Collins denied that characterization and said no one near him was throwing anything. Collins — who studies astronautical engineering at USC with a minor in cinematic arts — has continued his coursework while adapting to life with one eye.

Updates

2026-04-15 — Federal tort claim filed; Collins disputed DHS warning account [3]

At a press conference on April 15, 2026, attorney V. James DeSimone announced the filing of a federal tort claim against DHS — the required precursor to a civil lawsuit — and Collins publicly described the moment of impact, saying he heard no dispersal order and that no one near him was throwing anything. DHS directed CNN to its earlier statement when asked to respond.

2026-04-29 — Collins filed $100 million Federal Tort Claims Act claim [4]

The Daily Trojan obtained a copy of the Federal Tort Claims Act claim filed by Collins against DHS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other federal agencies, seeking $100 million in damages. The document alleges tortious conduct constituting assault, battery, and violations of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. DHS has six months to respond; if the claim is rejected or unanswered, Collins' legal team intends to file a civil lawsuit.

Why we recorded this

The First Amendment protects the right to document government activity in public spaces, including the right to photograph and film protests and law enforcement. Tucker Collins was positioned behind a barrier, separated from agents, and was documenting the demonstration as a student photographer — not participating in any alleged violence. Firing a less-lethal projectile that destroyed his eye while he stood behind a barrier constitutes excessive force against a non-threatening individual engaged in protected First Amendment activity. Using crowd-control munitions against someone documenting a protest from a distance also operates as obstruction of that protected documentation activity. The permanent, life-altering injury — surgical removal of an eye — illustrates the severity of unchecked federal use of force against civilians exercising constitutional rights.

Sources

  1. USC freshman loses eye after being struck by federal agent's projectile at Los Angeles 'No Kings' protest, attorney says — CNN investigative accessed July 20, 2026
  2. USC freshman prepares to file lawsuit against DHS after losing eye during 'No Kings' rally in downtown Los Angeles — ABC7 Los Angeles secondary accessed July 20, 2026
  3. USC student who lost an eye at 'No Kings' protest disputes federal account of crowd warnings — CNN investigative accessed July 20, 2026
  4. USC student files claim against DHS for $100 million — Daily Trojan secondary accessed July 20, 2026

See also