Gay man remains in hospital with life-altering injuries after being attacked in Sacramento
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A gay man remains in hospital with life-altering injuries after a brutal assault outside an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Sacramento, California, which police are investigating as a possible hate crime.
The victim, identified as Alvin Prasad, 57, was attacked in the early hours of 1 November after leaving Badlands, a popular LGBTQ+ venue in the city’s Lavender Heights district. According to family members, Prasad had been celebrating Halloween with his daughter, Andrea Prasad, and a friend when the incident occurred.
Andrea told local media that a man hurled an insult at her father as they walked back to their car. When Alvin confronted the man verbally, he was punched in the forehead, causing him to fall backwards and strike his head on the concrete. “He hit the ground pretty quickly,” Andrea said. “The back of his head hit the pavement. He wasn’t responding.”
Emergency responders found Prasad unconscious and bleeding. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed he had suffered permanent brain damage and remains in a coma. “He’ll never be the same,” Andrea said. “He can’t express himself, can’t go out dancing. It’s just… it’s not the same.”
Police arrested Sean Wesley Payton Jr, 24, near the scene. He faces charges of assault causing great bodily injury, resisting arrest, and a hate crime enhancement. Payton appeared briefly in Sacramento County Superior Court on 17 November and is due back on 16 December for further hearings.
The Sacramento LGBT Community Centre condemned the attack, describing it as “brutal” and warning of a rise in bias-related incidents in Lavender Heights, including vandalism and threats against LGBTQ+ spaces. The centre urged victims and witnesses to report hate crimes through official channels.
California law allows prosecutors to seek harsher penalties for crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. The investigation continues as the community rallies around Prasad’s family, who have launched a fundraising campaign to cover medical costs.
