New Zealand mourns woman killed in robbery on Fashion Island in Newport Beach – NBC Los Angeles

New Zealand’s prime minister and other world leaders expressed their sadness this week after learning of the tragic death of 68-year-old Patricia McKay, who was killed during a botched robbery at an Orange County mall.

McKay, who was visiting Southern California with her husband from the southwest Pacific island nation, was killed Tuesday afternoon as the couple left Fashion Island in Newport Beach. The New Zealand Herald identified husband Doug McKay as a prominent Auckland businessman and released a statement from the grieving family.

“No words can express our grief as we try to cope with the loss of our mother, wife and friend Patricia,” the family said in their statement. “We ask for privacy as we process this as a family.”

The country’s prime minister described McKay’s death as a devastating loss.

“After the devastating loss of Trish, my thoughts are with the McKay family,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a post on X. “They are amazing people and my condolences go out to Doug, her family and everyone who knew Trish.”

The deputy mayor of Auckland also expressed her sadness.

“Trish was the wife of Doug McKay, who was the first CEO of the merged Auckland Council (among other key roles),” Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said in a post. “Trish was incredible – funny, loyal and loving. My deepest condolences go out to Doug and her family. Absolutely shocked.”

Flowers, notes and other items were left at the entrance to the Newport Beach mall in memory of McKay, who was struck and killed by the suspects’ getaway car as they left the scene of the attempted robbery.

Witnesses told police that two men, one of them armed, attempted to rob the couple as they left the mall. During the robbery attempt, the woman was dragged into the street and struck by a car driven by a third suspect, police said.

Patricia McKay died at the scene of the accident.

“It was a tragic loss,” said Sergeant Steven Oberon of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Her husband was not injured.

One of the three men arrested for attempting to rob and then allegedly kill a New Zealand tourist has a criminal past. Amber Frias reports for NBC4 News on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 7 p.m.

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

A chase ensued after the three men in the white sedan failed to yield during a traffic stop. One suspect exited the car in Cypress but was eventually arrested. The other two men were arrested after exiting the car in Los Angeles County.

The suspects were identified as Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton, Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster and Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles. NBCLA learned that the oldest suspect has a criminal past, including the 2022 robbery of a tourist at gunpoint in Santa Monica.

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