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

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

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

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

McKay, who was with her husband, died at the scene of the accident.

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.

“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.”