LA to Pay $11.8 Million to Man Blinded by Police Projectile

Jury awards compensation to college student struck in the face during Dodgers celebration

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered rubber bullet casing against a pitch-black background, capturing the stark, investigative aesthetic of the Weegee photographic style.A harsh, gritty close-up of the aftermath of a police projectile strike, exposing the human cost of controversial crowd control tactics.Los Angeles Today

A federal jury has ordered the city of Los Angeles to pay $11.8 million to a 27-year-old man who was permanently blinded in one eye after being struck by a police projectile while celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 World Series win. Isaac Castellanos filed a lawsuit alleging excessive use of force by LAPD officers, who fired 'less lethal' munitions into a peaceful crowd without warning.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns over police use of force and crowd control tactics, especially the deployment of 'less lethal' projectiles that can still cause serious injury. It comes amid a series of lawsuits and court rulings restricting LAPD's use of such munitions against protesters and bystanders.

The details

According to the lawsuit, LAPD officers advanced on the crowd celebrating the Dodgers' World Series victory and began firing projectiles without warning. Castellanos, a college senior at the time, was struck in the face and permanently blinded in one eye. He had to abandon his promising esports career and filed a federal lawsuit in 2022 alleging excessive use of force.

  • On October 28, 2020, Castellanos was celebrating the Dodgers' World Series win in downtown LA.
  • In 2022, Castellanos filed a federal lawsuit against the city.
  • On April 18, 2026, a federal jury ordered LA to pay Castellanos $11.8 million in damages.

The players

Isaac Castellanos

A 27-year-old man who was permanently blinded in one eye after being struck by a police projectile while celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 World Series win.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)

The police department that deployed 'less lethal' munitions into the crowd of Dodgers fans, leading to Castellanos' injury.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He is incredibly relieved and feels very vindicated. He's really hopeful … that this will cause the LAPD to take a hard look at their crowd control practices.”

— Monique Alarcon, Attorney for Isaac Castellanos

What’s next

The LA City Attorney's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the jury's decision. The case is likely to prompt further scrutiny of LAPD's use of force policies and crowd control tactics.

The takeaway

This case underscores the risks and consequences of police using 'less lethal' projectiles against crowds, even in celebratory contexts. It may lead to reforms in how LAPD and other departments approach crowd control to balance public safety with protecting the rights of peaceful demonstrators and bystanders.