A young Marine and Iraq war veteran participating in a peaceful assembly in Oakland was shot by police in the head at close range yesterday with a “non-lethal projectile” that required him to be put into a drug induced coma and will require brain surgery to relieve swelling on his brain. Scott Olsen was injured participating in the Occupy Oakland protests, a right he literally fought for, and when fellow protesters tried to administer aid a police officer tossed a flash grenade scattering the crowd who nevertheless returned through the tear gas fog to carry him to where he could receive medical attention while police stood by and looked on.

Scott Olsen, the Iraq war veteran who suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a projectile fired by police during the Occupy Oakland protests, will require surgery to alleviate brain swelling.

Doctors at Highland Hospital in Oakland have upgraded Olsen’s condition from critical to fair, a source told the Guardian, though they would not discuss whether the 24-year-old had regained consciousness.

Olsen’s roommate Keith Shannon, who served with him in Iraq, said Olsen would be undergoing surgery “within a day or two”.

Shannon, who lives with Olsen in Daly City, a city south of San Francisco, said it was “great” that Olsen had been upgraded to “fair” status, but said concerns remained as to whether he may have suffered brain damage.

He was sedated upon arrival at the hospital on Tuesday night. His parents flew in from Wisconsin and were at his bedside on Thursday.

Oakland’s police chief Howard Jordan has promised a vigorous investigation into the incident which has provoked heavy criticism across the US, sparking solidarity marches in dozens of Occupy camps in the country.

This week’s violent clashes with police in Oakland appear to have re-energised the Occupy movement in America, creating political liabilities for civic leaders across the United States, who had seemed poised to follow Oakland’s lead and, in some cases, issued orders to clear the streets.

Peace be with you little brother, we stand with you. Anonymous sends the following message