A protest in Santa Ana, California, last Friday ended with a young demonstrator permanently losing vision in his left eye after a federal agent fired a less-lethal round at close range during what authorities described as a chaotic scene.
Kaden Rummler, 21, told reporters he can no longer see out of his left eye following the incident at a demonstration over the shooting death of Renee Goodin in Minnesota. Medical examinations revealed the severity of his injury extends beyond the initial wound.
“Not even light, and I never will,” Rummler said when describing his condition. Doctors discovered plastic, metal, and glass fragments throughout his eye. Metal remains lodged in his face, positioned mere millimeters from his carotid artery. “My doctor said it’s a miracle I’m still alive,” Rummler stated.
Video footage from the demonstration shows a federal agent removing a protester from the crowd. Rummler, holding a megaphone at the time, moved toward the agent and protester when the agent discharged the less-lethal round, striking Rummler in the eye. Subsequent footage shows an agent dragging Rummler from the area, his face covered in blood.
“I just started feeling like a bit of warmth down my face,” Rummler recalled of the moment he was struck.
The Department of Homeland Security has not disclosed the specific type of less-lethal ammunition used in the incident. The agency released a statement characterizing the events as a “highly coordinated campaign of violence” during which two officers sustained injuries.
Rummler faces a disorderly conduct charge stemming from the incident. Despite his permanent injury, he maintains he would participate in similar demonstrations again. “I won’t sit back when there’s injustice going on,” he said. The incident continues to affect him, as he reports replaying the events repeatedly, particularly when attempting to sleep.
John Washington, representing Rummler, characterized the use of force as excessive and inappropriate. “There’s a distinction between when an officer is genuinely threatened and a situation like this,” Washington said, suggesting the circumstances did not warrant such a response.
Law enforcement perspectives on the incident differ. Former NYPD detective Sgt. Felipe Rodriguez offered insight into the challenges officers face in such situations. “Imagine having to arrest someone and also keep an eye on someone that’s coming quickly upon you,” Rodriguez explained, noting the agent had limited time to assess and respond to the developing situation.
Rodriguez emphasized the dual concerns officers must balance in volatile situations. “We’re not out there to hurt people, but at the end of the day, we’re not out there to get hurt either,” he said.
The incident raises questions about the appropriate deployment of less-lethal weapons during civil demonstrations, particularly regarding distance requirements and threat assessment protocols. As investigations continue, the case highlights the ongoing tensions between maintaining public order and protecting constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.
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