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LOS ANGELES () — An 18-year-old USC freshman who lost an eye is calling for justice after a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer fired a projectile at him during a “No Kings” rally in downtown Los Angeles last month.
Tucker Collins is preparing to file a federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging the DHS officer is responsible for his life-altering injury.
He and his lawyer spoke out on Wednesday as he continues his recovery.
It happened just over two weeks ago near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown L.A.
Police said dispersal orders were issued and multiple people were detained after the “No Kings” rally in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.
Video from that day shows Collins on the ground as friends and strangers came to his aid. He says he was at the protest to take photos and witness history.
A projectile then struck him directly in the eye, destroying his eyeball and fracturing bones in his eye socket.
“One moment I was recording, and the next thing I know, I can’t see. I’m on the floor, screaming in agony,” Collins recalled.
Collins now wears an eye patch and spoke at a press conference on Wednesday alongside his parents and attorney.
“I remember I was trying to, I was trying to open my left eye, and it hurt like hell to do that, because when you open your left eye, you open up your right eye,” Collins said. “There was a fence between us. There wasn’t even anyone throwing anything. If I was agitating by taking photos, then I’m surprised that counts as agitation.”
“We call upon our local officials — the city of Los Angeles, the mayor of Los Angeles, the police chief — to conduct a criminal investigation into the shot that took out Tucker Collins’ eyes,” civil rights attorney V. James Desimone said.
A DHS spokesperson sent Eyewitness News a statement, describing the group as “rioters” and alleging items were thrown at officers.
DHS defended its actions, saying in part, “Seven warnings were issued, before the deployment of crowd control measures were deployed.”
Collins denies that, or at least says he never heard a warning or a dispersal order.
His attorney says Collins will have a “dead eye” for the rest of his life.
READ MORE: 75 people arrested following ‘No Kings’ protest in DTLA, police say
The event was supposed to end at 5 p.m. Saturday, and the arrests were made after a dispersal order was given at 5:30 p.m.
The following is the full statement from DHS:
“The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting. DHS is taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters. Our law enforcement has followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to protect themselves, the public, and federal property.
Seven warnings were issued, before the deployment of crowd control measures were deployed.
On March 28, a group of 1,000 rioters surrounded the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles. Rioters threw rocks, bottles, and cement blocks at officers. One rioter who threw a large piece of broken concrete at a CBP member was arrested for assault of a federal officer-a federal crime and felony. This individual is also a person of interest for breaking an FPS officer’s wrist.
A second subject was arrested on multiple charges including throwing objects at federal property, disorderly conduct, and wearing a mask to conceal identity.
A third subject assaulted a Los Angeles Police Department officer with a deadly weapon and is wanted for destruction of federal property.”
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