Los Angeles, Ca
Woman's teeth broken with gun amid violent robbery in Southern California
A serial robbery suspect from South Los Angeles, who reportedly smashed a victim’s teeth with his gun, is facing the possibility of life in federal prison after a nearly month long crime spree, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
In a news release, DOJ prosecutors say 21-year-old Oshae Pollard, a resident of L.A.’s Manchester Square neighborhood, targeted victims in parking lots, committing at least three armed robberies and one attempted robbery between Aug. 25 to Sep. 22.
In a brutal Aug. 25 robbery outside the Hustler Casino in Gardena, the 21-year-old allegedly shoved a woman to the ground and attempted to steal her purse as she screamed for help.
Prosecutors said Pollard pulled a semiautomatic pistol on the victim and shoved it into her mouth, breaking her teeth in the process and saying, “If you yell again, I’ll kill you.”
When a witness to the robbery began to yell, Pollard grabbed the victim’s purse and fled in a vehicle, getting away $1,000 – $2,000, the released detailed.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 26, the 21-year-old and accomplice robbed a taxi driver who was sitting in his car outside Winchell’s Donut House in Carson. The driver was beaten and held at gunpoint until giving up his wallet and cellphone.
The same evening, the pair struck again outside Fashion Island Shopping Center in Newport Beach.
They approached two victims standing near their vehicles, a Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari, and demanded their cash and jewelry. The owner of the Rolls handed over the keys to the car, a luxury watch and a wallet.
“When the other victim started the Ferrari and attempted to drive away, Pollard ran to the driver’s door of the Ferrari and fired one round from his pistol into the car, barely missing the victim,” prosecutors said. “The victim drove to a nearby gas station and asked the gas station clerk to call police, who later recovered one 9mm shell casing from the scene.”
In all, Pollard and his accomplice got away with $44,000 in property from the two victims.
About three weeks later, on Sep. 22, at South Coast Plaza shopping mall in Costa Mesa, the 21-year-old reportedly struck again, approaching a man as he was getting into parked car and demanding his property.
“When the victim didn’t comply, Pollard shot the victim in the left hand, then pointed his pistol at the victim’s chest and said, ‘You’re a dead man,’” prosecutors said. “Pollard then shot the victim in the left thigh as he began to remove his watch.”
Though he’d been shot twice, the victim kicked Pollard, who fell to the ground as the victim repeatedly kicked him.
“The violence alleged in this complaint shocks the conscience,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.
The 21-year-old eventually fled the scene in a Kia Forte. The victim, fortunately, survived the gunshot wounds.
Pollard, who was taken into custody on Dec. 4, was charged with interference of commerce by robbery and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico
A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.
The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024.
Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.
Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan.
The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.
In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.
The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.
The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved.
Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”
On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge.
“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”
Los Angeles, Ca
NB 405 Freeway closed near LAX after pursuit ends in gunfire
The northbound 405 Freeway will remain closed for several hours near Los Angeles International Airport after a police pursuit ended with officers opening fire Friday morning. Unconfirmed reports indicated the incident began with a robbery at a 7-Eleven store, which ended with Los Angeles Police Department officers pursuing the suspect in a Kia. The chase […]
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