Kinetic Projectile Injuries Treated During Civil Protests in Los Angeles: A Case Series

Abstract

Introduction: During protests following the death of George Floyd, kinetic impact projectiles (KIP) were used by law enforcement as a method of crowd control. We describe the injuries seen at a single Level 1 trauma center in Los Angeles over a two-day period of protests to add to the collective understanding of the public health ramifications of crowd-control weapons used in the setting of protests. Case Series: We reviewed the emergency department visits of 14 patients who presented to our facility due to injuries sustained from KIPs over a 48-hour period during civil protests after the death of George Floyd. Conclusion: Less lethal weapons can cause significant injuries and may not be appropriate for the purposes of crowd control, especially when used outside of established guidelines.