Violent Protester Lunges At DHS Agents And Gets Shot In The Eye With A Non-Lethal Round...Doctors Say He's Now Blind

Kaden Rummler, 21, was among protesters in Santa Ana on Friday night when federal officers pulled him and another demonstrator from the crowd. Speaking by phone from the hospital, Rummler says an officer fired a nonlethal weapon at close range, striking him in the face. Doctors have told him he will not regain his vision. Rummler maintains that he was not acting violently and was holding a loudspeaker when officers seized him, but video uploaded to X shows a different story as both Rummler and the other protester aggressively lunge at the agents.

Below is a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

"On Jan. 9, a mob of about 60 rioters threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at law enforcement officers outside the federal building in Santa Ana. Two officers were injured. Two violent rioters were arrested and were charged with assault on a federal officer and disorderly conduct. This was a highly coordinated campaign of violence where rioters wielded shields. One of the rioters, who was arrested for disorderly conduct, was taken to the hospital for a cut and was released that night.

"Make no mistake, rioting and assaulting law enforcement is not only dangerous but a crime.

"Secretary Noem has been clear: Any rioter who obstructs or assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."