During a May 2nd pro-Palestinian demonstration at UCLA, CalMatters documented at least 25 instances in which California Highway Patrol officers appear to aim or fire what's known as less lethal munitions while dispersing the protesters.

Officer training guidelines and state law prohibit these actions, which include aiming at eye level and firing into crowds.

Law enforcement officers across the state are trained that these types of munitions shall "Not be aimed at the head, neck, or any other vital organs.

This is according to the California Commission on Peace of Officers and Standards Training.

In one example, a CHP officer uses the barrel of a beanbag shotgun to repeatedly strike the hands of a kneeling protester trying to keep a section of wood fence upright.

Travis Norton, a retired police lieutenant who developed a course on the use of less lethal weapons for the commission says, "I will tell you this.

We do not train to point it at people's heads unless it's a deadly force situation."

In 2021, California outlawed the practice of shooting less lethal munitions at people merely to disperse them after their use caused serious injury during demonstrations that followed George Floyd's murder.

The law restricts officers from using them except when there is a "threat to life or serious bodily injury."

In response to CalMatters' questions, CHP Communications Director Jaime Coffee said that officers did indeed face a threat from protesters who were "launching objects and weapons."

While on scene, CalMatters did not observe any instances of protesters attacking California Highway Patrol officers.

No battery or assault charges have been announced against protesters.

For CalMatters, I'm Sergio Olmos.