Woman killed in attempted robbery at Newport Beach mall identified – NBC Los Angeles

A woman visiting Southern California from New Zealand has been identified as the victim killed in an attempted robbery Tuesday at a Newport Beach mall.

Patricia McKay, 68, was killed when she was struck and killed by the suspects' getaway car as they were leaving the crime scene on Fashion Island in the area of ​​Santa Rosa Drive and Newport Center Drive.

Witnesses told police that two men, one armed with a gun, attempted to rob two people who were walking outside the mall. During the attempted robbery, the woman was dragged onto the road and hit by a car with a third suspect behind the wheel, police said.

McKay, who was with her husband, died instantly.

One of the men fired a handgun three times during the robbery, but no one was hit by the gunfire, police said.

A chase ensued after the three men in the white sedan failed to yield to a traffic stop. One suspect got out of the car in Cypress but was eventually taken into custody. The other two men were arrested after abandoning the car in Los Angeles County.

The suspects have been identified as Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton; Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster; and Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles.

“To hell with these guys,” Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neil said. “They came to our city knowing they were going to commit a crime, and a woman died today because of it.”