A sign posted in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights district is raising concerns about violence against the LGBTQIA+ community, pointing to three attacks in the area over the past year.
One of those attacks involved 57-year-old Alvin Prasad, who was assaulted Nov, 1, 2025 along the 2000 block of K Street. Sacramento police said officers found Prasad with blunt-force trauma injuries. He had been in a coma and later died from his injuries.
Police arrested Sean Payton near the scene. He was initially booked on charges related to the assault and hate crime, but police said he now faces homicide-related charges.
The sign also points to an attack involving Joseph Sais, known as Joey, who was attacked early Sunday, August 30th, in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights district.
Sais is a Sacramento city employee and LGBTQ community advocate who works in city council offices. His attack has raised safety concerns ahead of Rainbow Weekend.
Sacramento police said the Aug. 30 incident is under investigation and that no arrests have been made.
“The Sacramento Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety of our community, especially as we head into the holiday weekend,” the department said in a statement. “Additional resources will be deployed throughout the area and we encourage everyone to look out for one another, stay vigilant, and if you see something, say something.”
Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said Sais, whom he referred to as Joey, works in the council offices.
“Joey works in the council offices; we know him. He’s an absolute lovely person and, it’s always tragic when something like this happens but, when the victim, it’s all that much more hurtful, not just to Joey but to the entire community that feels harmed by this kind of bias and violence,” said Pluckebaum.
Pluckebaum said the city supports more police staffing, private patrols and surveillance, but said there are not enough resources for everything the city would like to provide.
His immediate proposal is a neighborhood watch made up of residents who would observe and report rather than engage with people or put themselves at risk.
“It has been very effective in other communities and it’s something that we have been talking about for this one for a year. It’s time for the community to step up and take that next step and organize that patrol,” said Pluckebaum.
Private security is also being offered as an additional resource.
Aaron Zeff, CEO of HQ Security, tells ABC10 his company protects some properties in Lavender Heights and has CCTV cameras in the area. He said the company has offered additional patrols and CCTV trailers to Sacramento police and Rainbow Festival organizers at no charge.
“I have personally reached out to SAC PD and our councilmen and let them know that we have the ability to provide additional patrols. We have CCTV cameras across the streets at 20th and L, 20th and K, and just want to be a good community member and basically say we will provide this at no charge for your Rainbow Festival,” said Zeff. “To see what the LGBTQ community is going through is terrible.”