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Man could lose eye after being hit by projectile in Denver protest

Posted at 9:41 AM, Jun 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-10 11:41:33-04

Jax Feldmann could lose his left eye after an encounter with law enforcement. He says he was hit by a projectile fired by police during the May 30 George Floyd protest near the Colorado State Capitol building.

"It literally hit directly in the eye," Feldmann said.

As first reported by our news partners atThe Denver Post, Feldmann says he may have been near the protests, but wasn't protesting at all. Instead, he was leaving a friend's home. Walking towards his car is when Feldmann says he saw a truck surrounded by police officers turn the corner toward him.

"I wasn’t doing anything, they didn’t tell me I was doing anything or to stop doing anything. There was no warning," Feldmann says leading up to the moment he says he was hit in the eye.

The 21-year-old aspiring chef was rushed to hospital and taken into surgery to save his eye.

"I’m not going to be able to see out of it most likely, there’s really no chance I’ll be able to see out of it again," Feldmann said.

He'll likely have to get another surgery. Doctors tell him he may eventually be able to recognize light. However, there's also a chance his left eye will have to be removed.

The scars around his eye is healing, but for now, it's still difficult to face reality.

"I was afraid to look at a mirror. I still don’t really go and look at a mirror just because I feel like it’s going to cause more pain," Feldmann said.

Feldmann and his family are suing the Denver Police Department.

A Denver Police Department spokesperson says they are investigating the incident.