Man who shot bank teller in the head gets life…and more

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 28-year-old Harlingen man has been ordered to federal prison for life for robbing a bank with a dangerous weapon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Muhamed Pathe Bah pleaded guilty June 28 on the eve of trial.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered him to serve the maximum – receiving life in prison for the robbery as well as another 25 years for the use of the firearm during a crime of violence to run consecutively. Bah must also pay restitution to his victim. At the hearing, the court heard about the viciousness of his crime and the extreme emotional impact on the victims.

in shooting the bank teller in the head within five seconds of interacting with him,

On June 26, 2020, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Bah entered a Texas Regional Bank on Sunshine Strip in Harlingen and made his way to a bank teller. Within five seconds, Bah pulled a pistol from a bag and shot the teller in the head. Bah then robbed the bank and fled the area with the stolen money.

Law enforcement saw a man matching his description who was riding a bicycle. It was Bah. Authorities then took him into custody.  

During the arrest, he had a pistol with a spent shell casing in its cylinder on him as well as a large amount of money in a bag he was carrying. He was also in possession of a mask that matched the description witnesses had given.

The FBI conducted the investigation along with the Harlingen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Lindenmuth and Nicole Piquette prosecuted the case.