Lawsuit Alleges LAPD 'Less-Lethal' Tactics Blinded Competitive Gamer

Federal civil rights lawsuit claims police fired projectiles into peaceful Dodgers celebration, permanently injuring 22-year-old student.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A federal civil rights lawsuit alleges that in October 2020, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers fired "less-lethal" projectiles into a peaceful crowd celebrating the Dodgers' World Series victory, permanently blinding a 22-year-old college student and competitive gamer in one eye. The case, set for trial on April 7, 2026, puts LAPD crowd-control tactics under intensified scrutiny.

Why it matters

This case highlights growing concerns over the use of "less-lethal" weapons like rubber bullets and sponge rounds, which civil rights advocates warn can cause devastating injuries when deployed improperly. The lawsuit alleges the LAPD's response was part of a broader pattern of escalatory crowd-control tactics used at large gatherings, including sports celebrations.

The details

According to the complaint, officers advanced toward the crowd and began firing kinetic impact rounds without warning. Plaintiff Isaac Castellanos alleges he was struck directly in the right eye by a projectile fired by an LAPD officer as he was trying to leave the celebrations, causing immediate pain and loss of vision that doctors later determined was permanent.

  • In October 2020, hundreds of fans gathered near what is now Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the World Series.
  • The lawsuit was filed in 2022 and is scheduled to begin trial on April 7, 2026.

The players

Isaac Castellanos

A 22-year-old college student and competitive gamer who was permanently blinded in one eye after being struck by a projectile fired by LAPD officers during the Dodgers' World Series celebration.

Pedram Esfandiary

Attorney and partner at Wisner Baum, the law firm representing Castellanos in the lawsuit.

Monique Alarcon

Attorney and partner at Wisner Baum, the law firm representing Castellanos in the lawsuit.

Cody MacArthur

An LAPD officer named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Jesse Pineda

An LAPD officer named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“This young man was peacefully celebrating a historic sports moment. He walked away with a catastrophic injury that will affect him for the rest of his life. This case is about accountability, and about ending the LAPD's dangerous practice of firing projectiles into civilian crowds.”

— Pedram Esfandiary, Attorney and partner at Wisner Baum (bakercityherald.com)

“These weapons may be labeled 'less lethal,' but Isaac's injury is permanent. That label cannot be used as a shield when the result is life-altering disability.”

— Pedram Esfandiary, Attorney and partner at Wisner Baum (bakercityherald.com)

“This case is about more than one injury. It's about whether a city can allow militarized crowd-control tactics to be used against peaceful civilians during sports celebrations, protests and other gatherings. This question is arising more and more in California and across the United States.”

— Monique Alarcon, Attorney and partner at Wisner Baum (bakercityherald.com)

“No one should be severely injured by law enforcement simply for gathering and peacefully celebrating in public. The Constitution ensures that one is not subjected to unreasonable force simply because law enforcement believes a celebratory gathering should be shut down. This case will determine whether the LAPD and the City can be held accountable for indiscriminate force against peaceful Angelenos.”

— Monique Alarcon, Attorney and partner at Wisner Baum (bakercityherald.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on April 7, 2026 whether the lawsuit against the LAPD officers and the City of Los Angeles can proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing concerns over the use of "less-lethal" crowd-control weapons by law enforcement, which can cause devastating and permanent injuries even when used against peaceful civilians. The lawsuit seeks to hold the LAPD and the City of Los Angeles accountable for their tactics and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.