In a tragic incident, an elderly woman was killed during an attempted robbery in Newport Beach, California. The crime occurred outside the Fashion Island shopping center on Tuesday afternoon, involving armed suspects who targeted a tourist couple from New Zealand.
Patricia McKay, 68, and her husband were confronted by two men near a Barnes and Noble bookstore. The couple resisted the robbery attempt, leading to a violent confrontation. A white Toyota Camry, the suspects’ getaway car, arrived at the scene, and one suspect fired multiple shots, though no one was hit.
As the suspects sped away, the driver ran over McKay, killing her instantly. “Tragically and unfortunately, she was deceased there in the roadway,” Newport Beach PD Sgt. Steve Oberon reported.
The suspects then led police on a high-speed chase through Los Angeles, reaching speeds of 110 mph. They abandoned the car in South Gate and attempted to flee on foot but were quickly apprehended by police. The arrested individuals were identified as 28-year-old Leroyernest Joseph McCrary from Compton, 18-year-old Jaden Cunningham from Lancaster, and 18-year-old Malachi Darnell from Los Angeles.
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill credited the swift law enforcement response for capturing the suspects. “You know, frankly, to hell with these guys,” O’Neill said. “They knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to come into our city to commit a crime, and a woman is dead because of it.”
The investigation continues as police work to uncover what the robbers were after. McKay’s husband survived the incident without physical injury. This tragic event has underscored the dangers posed by such violent crimes and the importance of a robust law enforcement response.
