Man Jammed Pistol in Woman's Mouth, Threatened to Kill Her

It was a routine evening outside a Southern California casino — until it turned brutal.

A woman, simply trying to hold onto her purse, suddenly found herself on the pavement, face-to-face with a man wielding a black semi-automatic pistol. In seconds, that weapon was jammed into her mouth, snapping her teeth. Then came the words, according to PEOPLE — "If you yell again, I'll kill you."

A Terrifying Chain of Events

Federal authorities say this wasn't an isolated act of violence. The man behind the gun, 21-year-old Oshae Pollard of Los Angeles, allegedly carried out a string of robberies over the course of nearly a month, from Aug. 25 to Sept. 22, 2024. Each attack followed a familiar pattern — high-end targets, open parking lots, and the terrifying presence of a firearm.

But what happened outside Hustler Casino in Gardena was different. There, Pollard reportedly shoved a woman to the ground as she screamed for help. Authorities say he responded with devastating cruelty, thrusting his pistol into her mouth, breaking her teeth, and threatening to end her life if she made another sound. He then grabbed her purse and escaped with between $1,000 and $2,000.

1 Suspect, Multiple Victims

Authorities allege that Pollard, sometimes accompanied by an unnamed accomplice, continued his crime spree with alarming boldness. Just a day later, on Aug. 26, a cab driver sitting in his parked vehicle outside a Carson Winchell's Donut House was allegedly punched in the face and robbed at gunpoint. His wallet and cellphone were taken before Pollard fled the scene.

Later that same day, two more victims were targeted in Newport Beach. One handed over his wallet, luxury watch, and keys to a Rolls-Royce — property totaling around $44,000 — after Pollard pointed a gun at him. The second tried to flee in a Ferrari^® but was nearly struck by a bullet Pollard fired into the vehicle. A 9mm shell casing was recovered at the scene.

Violence Escalates

The spree reached a new level of savagery on Sept. 22, 2024, at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. When a man refused to hand over his watch, ring, and keys to a Lamborghini^® SUV, Pollard allegedly shot him in the hand. Then, after warning "You're a dead man," police say he shot him again in the thigh, according to PEOPLE.

Despite his injuries, the victim fought back—kicking Pollard repeatedly before escaping to his car and driving away. Authorities later revealed that Pollard fled that scene in a Kia^® Forte. The victim survived, but the psychological scars from the attack — like those inflicted on other victims — may linger far longer.

The Fallout and What Comes Next

Pollard was arrested on Dec. 4, 2024 and charged with interference with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. A federal judge has since ordered that he be held without bond.

If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in federal prison. Authorities, including United States Attorney Martin Estrada, have emphasized the severity of the allegations. "The violence alleged in this complaint shocks the conscience," Estrada said in a public statement reported by KTLA5.

For residents and victims alike, the fallout is already personal. As Kimberly Edds from the Orange County District Attorney's Office noted, according to PEOPLE, "These are crimes of violence that not only terrorize the intended targets, but our community as a whole."

References: Man Breaks Woman's Teeth with Gun During Robbery | Woman's Teeth Broken with Gun Amid Violent Robbery | Man Arrested in Violent Robbery Spree