Sacramento Man in Coma After Alleged Hate Crime Attack Outside LGBTQ+ Nightclub

Alvin Prasad, 57, was leaving Badlands, a popular LGBTQ+ venue located in Sacramento's Lavender Heights district, in the early morning hours of November 1, 2025, when he became the victim of a brutal assault. Prasad had been celebrating Halloween with his daughter, Andrea Prasad, and a friend when the incident occurred. As the group walked toward their car near 20th Street, a man approached them and hurled an insult at Prasad regarding his Halloween outfit. When Prasad attempted to confront the man verbally to reason with him, the situation escalated quickly.

The suspect punched Prasad directly in the forehead, causing him to fall backward onto the concrete pavement. "He hit the ground pretty quickly," Andrea recalled to local media. "The back of his head hit the pavement. He wasn't responding." Emergency responders arrived at the scene around 1:30 a.m. and found Prasad unconscious and bleeding. He was immediately transported to a local hospital, where medical professionals confirmed he had suffered severe and permanent brain damage.

Now multiple weeks into his hospitalization, Prasad remains in a coma with doctors warning his family that the brain damage is irreversible. His daughter Andrea has described the profound changes to her father's life, stating: "He'll never be the same. He can't express himself, can't go out dancing. It's just… it's not the same." The timing of the attack is particularly devastating, as Prasad had recently retired and was preparing to relocate to Palm Springs.

Andrea has emphasized the importance of acceptance and pride, telling media outlets: "Everyone has a right to be who they are. My dad felt that way too." The family has launched a fundraising campaign to cover mounting medical expenses.

Police arrested 24-year-old Sean Wesley Payton Jr. near the scene of the attack. Payton faces charges including assault causing great bodily injury, resisting arrest, and a hate crime enhancement. He appeared briefly in Sacramento County Superior Court on November 17, 2025, and is scheduled to return on December 16, 2025, for further hearings.

Under California law, prosecutors can seek enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation or other protected characteristics.

The Sacramento LGBT Community Centre has condemned the attack as "brutal" and expressed deep concern about a pattern of bias-related incidents targeting LGBTQ+ spaces in Lavender Heights. The center has reported recent incidents including vandalism, threats against LGBTQ+ establishments, and multiple attacks targeting LGBTQ+ people over recent months. The organization has urged victims and witnesses to report hate crimes through official channels and continues to support affected community members.