A tourist from New Zealand was run over and killed by a group of suspects who tried to rob him at gunpoint outside a California fashion mall on Tuesday, sparking a wild police chase that ultimately led to the arrest of three suspects.
According to the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD), the victim, Patricia McKay (68), was outside Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach (near the Barnes & Noble store) with her husband around 3:30 p.m. when they were approached by two male suspects who attempted to rob them.
One of the suspects pulled a gun and a struggle ensued, during which the woman was dragged into the parking lot and several shots were fired, but no one was injured, police said.
California crime reform gets ‘unprecedented’ support from DAS, small businesses, progressive mayors
One of the suspects emerged shirtless between two houses and was arrested by officers with guns drawn. (KTTV/Fox11)
The woman was then run over by a third suspect driving a white Toyota Camry. McKay’s husband was uninjured.
“As the vehicle fled the scene, one of the suspects ran and actually struck the female victim,” NBPD Sergeant Steve Oberon told ABC 7. “The male suspect ran and then returned to his vehicle, at which point several rounds were fired from a handgun and the vehicle fled the scene.”
The three suspects then left the scene in a Camry and headed north toward Los Angeles, beginning a police pursuit.
Aerial video from Fox 11 Los Angeles shows one of the suspects exiting a vehicle and running into a residential area in the South Gate neighborhood, where a witness can be seen in the video tipped off police to the suspect’s location, between two homes.
Dana Perino: Crime in California is getting worse, Governor Newsom will have no choice but to act
A tourist from New Zealand was run over and killed by a group of suspects who tried to rob him at gunpoint outside a California fashion mall on Tuesday, sparking a wild police chase that ultimately led to the arrest of three suspects. (Fox 11)
The suspect eventually emerges shirtless and is seen walking backwards toward police with his hands up as officers draw their guns. He then drops to his knees and places his hands on his head before officers surround him, handcuff him and take him to a police vehicle.
The other two suspects drove in the Camry to Los Angeles County, where they abandoned the vehicle but were later arrested by police.
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill slammed the suspects, calling them “a bunch of creeps” and condemning the attack as “shocking and shocking.”
“Newport Beach is a safe community and we are mourning the loss of someone,” O’Neill told Fox 11. “Frankly, these guys should go to hell. They’re thugs. Every community is facing this right now. We have to do better as a society. This is unacceptable.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
The incident happened outside a Barnes & Noble at the Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach.
NBPD said in a statement that the suspects have been identified as Jayden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster, Malachi Edward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, and LeRoyenne Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton. The three were arrested on suspicion of murder, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy.
A delivery driver who witnessed the aftermath of the fatal incident said it was an unusual occurrence in the area.
“I was driving into the Atrium entrance and all of a sudden I saw someone on the ground and someone was doing CPR,” Esamayel Hamad told Fox 11. “This doesn’t happen here. I hardly ever see police cars, I only see security guards.”
