A 21-year-old protester was left permanently blind in his left eye after a federal officer fired a less-lethal projectile at close range during a demonstration in Santa Ana, California, on Jan. 9, family members, witnesses and officials said.
Kaden Rummler, a college student, was participating in a protest outside a federal immigration building against the Jan. 7 shooting death of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis when the confrontation occurred, video and statements show.
“Not even light and I never will,” he said when asked about his vision returning. “My doctor said it’s a miracle I’m still alive.”
Video footage of the incident shows a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer firing a crowd-control munition at Rummler at close range. Rummler fell to the ground, bleeding, and was later pulled by an officer into the federal building, according to video and accounts provided by protesters and Rummler’s family.
Warning: Graphic images
Rummler’s aunt, Jeri Rees, said he underwent roughly six hours of surgery at a local hospital. Doctors found shards of plastic, glass and metal in and around his left eye and skull, with a metal fragment lodged near a carotid artery that could not be safely removed. Surgeons also treated skull fractures, she said.
Rummler has permanently lost vision in that eye and faces long-term medical care, family members said, per CBS News. Rummler confirmed this himself in a post-injury interview.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to specify the type of munition used. In a statement, DHS described the protest as involving “violent” actions in which officers were injured, but did not address the specific claims about Rummler’s injuries.
Local police and protesters offered conflicting descriptions of events leading up to the shooting. DHS officials said demonstrators threw objects at officers; bystander video shown to news organizations did not clearly show such activity.
Rummler was cited for disorderly conduct at the event. Another protester was charged with assaulting a federal officer.
In addition to Rummler, another protester, 31-year-old Britain Rodriguez, told The Los Angeles Times that he was also struck in the face by a less-lethal round during the same protest and suffered a severe eye injury. Rodriguez said he heard no warning before he was hit.
Rummler and his supporters said the demonstration was largely peaceful before federal agents engaged the crowd. Video of the incident appears to show Rummler lunging at an officer right before he was struck with the crowd-control pellet.
Rummler said he intended to continue participating in protests despite his injury, and civil rights advocates have called for an investigation into the use of force.
The protest in Santa Ana was one of numerous demonstrations nationwide following the Good shooting in Minneapolis, which has drawn widespread criticism of federal law enforcement tactics.
Federal officials have repeatedly asked the public not to interfere with enforcement operations or ICE and other officers doing their jobs.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said last week she will continue to stand with law enforcement as protests targeting ICE officers spread across the country.
The demonstrations have followed the shooting of Renee Good, 37, in Minneapolis by an ICE officer. Noem said the woman attempted to drive her vehicle into the officer and described the incident as an act of domestic terrorism. The shooting has prompted protests in several cities and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement actions.
“I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am every single day for the men and women who put on the badge and put their lives on the line to protect the American people,” Noem said on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
“With more than 80,000 officers and agents, our Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the federal government,” she added.
