A young demonstrator has been left permanently blinded in one eye after a federal officer fired a crowd-control projectile at him from close range during a protest in Southern California. The incident, captured on video, occurred during a gathering outside a federal immigration building in Santa Ana.
Violent Confrontation During Immigration Protest
The protest on Friday, 9 January 2026, was sparked by the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a federal agent. Hundreds initially marched in Santa Ana, with a smaller group remaining outside the federal building by evening. Video evidence shows the group using megaphones to shout expletives about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and burning what appeared to be an American flag on the building's steps while chanting "Justice for Renee Good."
As demonstrators moved onto the plaza where agents in riot gear were stationed, tensions escalated. Officials were seen forcefully moving a protestor back. The situation intensified when an orange cone rolled onto the plaza, prompting officers to advance and fire munitions towards the crowd.
Close-Range Shooting and Arrest
The injured protestor, identified only as "K" by fellow demonstrators and his aunt, was filmed shouting through a megaphone. The video shows officers approaching the crowd, grabbing another protestor—Katelyn Skye Seitz—by the arm. In response, "K" and others stepped forward shouting.
An officer then fired a crowd-control weapon, striking "K" in the face from a distance of just several feet. He immediately grabbed his face and fell to the ground. An officer then grabbed "K" by his shirt and dragged him backwards across the ground before taking him into the federal building, where he was later seen face down and handcuffed.
Severe Injuries and Official Response
"K," a 21-year-old college student, suffered catastrophic injuries. His aunt, Jeri Rees, stated he was hospitalised for two days and underwent six hours of surgery on his left eye. He sustained skull fractures and a hole in his eyeball. "He's completely blind in that eye," Rees confirmed.
In a statement read on Tuesday 13 January, "K" said, "I will never see through my left eye again, not even light. I'm just glad I'm alive to tell my story." He was cited for disorderly conduct upon release from hospital.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not specify what projectiles were fired, though another protestor said they were pepper balls. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin labelled the group "violent rioters," stating two officers were injured and two protestors—including Seitz—were arrested and charged with assault on a federal officer and disorderly conduct. A federal complaint alleges Seitz threw an orange cone at officers and struck one on the shoulder and groin.
Additional video shows the confrontation continuing, with officers firing more rounds and another protestor walking away covered in white powder with a facial cut.
