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.