The Los Angeles Police Department is currently investigating a recent altercation wherein a protest participant was injured by a less-lethal round fired by an officer. The incident, part of a broader approach to manage mass protests in downtown Los Angeles, saw 27-year-old Jack Kearns sustain a head injury after breaking through a police line last Saturday, according to a statement by the LAPD.
Demonstrations that Tuesday evening prompted a response from the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies. Officers were dispatched in a crowd control capacity to establish order, creating a skirmish line during the operation. When Kearns penetrated the barrier, he was thereafter struck by a single round from a 40mm Less-Lethal Launcher by an officer stationed at the 77th Street Area. This resulted in his injury and subsequent hospitalization. The incident, isolated with no other reported injuries to civilians or officers, remains under investigation by the Force Investigation Division (FID).
Following the event, Kearns was promptly taken into custody before receiving medical attention. An ambulance arrived at the scene, and Kearns was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injury, described as being to the back of the head. As per the LAPD's narrative, the situation was resolved without further escalations.
As details unfurl, the LAPD's FID continues its inquiry, sifting through interviews, digital records, and forensic evidence that may provide clarity into the sequence of events leading to Kearns' injury. While preliminary information indicates that the response did not yield additional community or officer injuries, the department notes that "the Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed." Notably, such cases often evoke public scrutiny about the procedures and practices associated with law enforcement's management of public demonstrations.
