PART I - Scott Olsen“I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS.”
Shot in the head by police firing bean-bag rounds at demonstrators, this veteran awoke from a coma, returned to protesting, and became a symbol to the Occupy movement. Ten years later, he represents a life shattered by the misuse of less-lethal munitions.
READ PART IPART II - Andre MillerWhat is a rubber bullet?
Less-lethal munitions come in all shapes and sizes and can leave behind devastating wounds. Victims of KIPs often don’t know what hit them, unless — like this Black Lives Matter protester — there’s shrapnel left behind.
READ PART IIPART III - Richard MooreThe original rubber bullet
This 10-year-old from Derry, Northern Ireland was shot in the face with a rubber bullet while running home from school, an attack that blinded him for life. In the decades since, the U.K. has turned away from less-lethal munitions while U.S. law enforcement has increasingly embraced them. Why?
READ PART IIIPART IV - Victoria SnelgroveWhen Things Go Wrong
Everyone knew if the Red Sox ever beat the Yankees, Boston would burst. But what actually happened when they finally won exceeded people's worst fears. How a euphoric riot, a lack of police training, and an untested less-lethal weapon left a woman dead and city leaders seeking answers.
READ PART IVPART V - Linda TiradoThe Injustice of Suing the Police
Shot with a less-lethal round while photographing police officers during 2020’s protests in Minneapolis, this journalist was blinded for life. Then came the long, isolating pursuit of justice and accountability that made her pain even worse.
READ PART VPART VI - AUSTIN'S 8TH ST. VICTIMSLess Lethal, Still Deadly
After two days of protests, hundreds of bean-bag rounds fired, and dozens of grievously injured victims, a showdown is looming in Texas between law enforcement and the law.
READ PART VIScott Olsen“I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS.”
BYLinda Rodriguez McRobbie
Sarah Rice / San Francisco Chronicle
Pain compliance from a distance
“There is a part of his brain that’s missing”
When the smoke cleared
Unanswered questions
What is clear about less-lethal munitions is that, when they do injure people, the effect is devastating.
PART I - Scott Olsen“I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS.”
Shot in the head by police firing bean-bag rounds at demonstrators, this veteran awoke from a coma, returned to protesting, and became a symbol to the Occupy movement. Ten years later, he represents a life shattered by the misuse of less-lethal munitions.
READ PART IPART II - Andre MillerWhat is a rubber bullet?
Less-lethal munitions come in all shapes and sizes and can leave behind devastating wounds. Victims of KIPs often don’t know what hit them, unless — like this Black Lives Matter protester — there’s shrapnel left behind.
READ PART IIPART III - Richard MooreThe original rubber bullet
This 10-year-old from Derry, Northern Ireland was shot in the face with a rubber bullet while running home from school, an attack that blinded him for life. In the decades since, the U.K. has turned away from less-lethal munitions while U.S. law enforcement has increasingly embraced them. Why?
READ PART IIIPART IV - Victoria SnelgroveWhen Things Go Wrong
Everyone knew if the Red Sox ever beat the Yankees, Boston would burst. But what actually happened when they finally won exceeded people's worst fears. How a euphoric riot, a lack of police training, and an untested less-lethal weapon left a woman dead and city leaders seeking answers.
READ PART IVPART V - Linda TiradoThe Injustice of Suing the Police
Shot with a less-lethal round while photographing police officers during 2020’s protests in Minneapolis, this journalist was blinded for life. Then came the long, isolating pursuit of justice and accountability that made her pain even worse.
READ PART VPART VI - AUSTIN'S 8TH ST. VICTIMSLess Lethal, Still Deadly
After two days of protests, hundreds of bean-bag rounds fired, and dozens of grievously injured victims, a showdown is looming in Texas between law enforcement and the law.
READ PART VI