LOS ANGELES — A federal jury in Los Angeles ordered the city to pay $11.8 million to Isaac Castellanos, who was permanently blinded in one eye after being struck in the face by a projectile fired by Los Angeles Police Department officers. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning its verdict.

Castellanos was hit while peacefully celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 World Series win in downtown Los Angeles on October 28, 2020. He filed a federal lawsuit in 2022 alleging excessive use of force. According to the complaint, LAPD officers advanced toward a crowd and began firing projectiles without warning.

Castellanos was brought to tears as the verdict was announced while sitting next to his attorneys. Attorney Monique Alarcon said, "He is incredibly relieved and feels very vindicated."

Castellanos was a senior at California State University, Long Beach when he was struck by the projectile. Alarcon said he had a promising future as a professional esports player before he was blinded. A few weeks before he was hit, he won first place in a tournament, earning a $40,000 prize with a teammate.

The LAPD has been sued over its use of less lethal munitions, which include rubber bullets and bean bags, for crowd control. A federal judge blocked Los Angeles police from using rubber bullets and other less lethal munitions against reporters. In January 2026, a federal judge issued an injunction prohibiting the department from using 40 mm launchers in crowd control situations.

California law enacted in 2021 requires alternatives to force be tried before using less lethal munitions for crowd control. The law prohibits law enforcement from aiming less lethal munitions indiscriminately into a crowd or at the head, neck, or other vital organs. It also prohibits firing such munitions solely for a curfew violation, verbal threats toward officers, or failure to comply with directions given by law enforcement.

The city of Los Angeles and the LAPD did not provide a statement in response to the verdict. The injunction in January 2026 and the 2021 state law both addressed LAPD use of less lethal munitions in crowd control situations following the department's litigation history on the issue.