PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The lawyer for a man who was hit in the face by a crowd control munition launched by a federal officer in Portland is back in the hospital for an infection related to his injury.
His lawyer, James Healy, confirmed the rehospitalization to KOIN 6 News, the outlet reported Friday. Bystander videos show LaBella, 26, collapsing to the ground unconscious and bleeding profusely from the head after a federal officer outside the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse fired a less-lethal round at him on July 12.
LaBella was seen lifting a speaker above his head moments before the incident. It’s unclear what type of munition was used.
Since then, LaBella has had facial reconstruction surgery and has been in and out of the hospital several times for a “number of issues,” Healy said. LaBella returned to the hospital last week to treat an infection related to the incident, Healy said.
Healy said he’s not sure when LaBella will be discharged, but knows the infection happened in the area of his face that was shot, between the eyes. Healy said he was told the infection was not life-threatening.
Healy said he and attorney Chris Best intend to file a lawsuit once they have all the information they are seeking.
“We haven’t filed suit but are investigating all potential claims available against the federal government and the individual actors,” Healy said.
The U.S. Marshals Service previously said it would investigate the shooting. The incident was widely condemned in Portland, where protests took place for months after the May police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The name of the officer who shot LaBella hasn’t been publicly released.
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