The woman who police say died after she was run over by a car during an attempted robbery at Fashion Island in Newport Beach on Tuesday, July 2, was a 68-year-old New Zealand resident.
The three suspects who fled following the attempted robbery were ultimately arrested in Cypress and South Gate, police said on Wednesday, July 3, and booked into jail on suspicion of murder, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy, Newport Beach police Sgt. Steve Oberon said.
The suspects are:
Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton
Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster
Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles
Just past 3:30 p.m., Patricia McKay and her husband were walking near the Barnes & Noble store just past 3:30 p.m. when two suspects attempted to rob them, Oberon said. One of the men was armed with a handgun.
A struggle ensued, during which McKay was dragged into the parking lot area and the third suspect, driving a white Toyota Camry, ran her over, Oberon said. McKay’s husband was not injured.
As the other two suspects ran away, the armed suspect fired the handgun three times, but did not hit anyone, the sergeant said.
The pair joined the other suspect in the car and they fled, Oberon said.
Police found the vehicle and attempted to stop it — but the driver instead took the northbound 405 Freeway.
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During the pursuit, the suspects stopped in Cypress, where one of the men got out on foot, but police found and arrested him, Oberon said. The other two continued on, abandoning the car in a South Gate neighborhood and running away — but they were caught, too, police said.
The brazen, daytime robbery attempt startled shoppers and employees at the mall, including Ama Lawagy, 46, who was working at a nearby hair-care store.
“Everyone freaked out and started running,” Lawagy said on Tuesday.
What was stolen, if anything, was not immediately specified by police. Which of the suspects was the driver and which one fired the shots was also not yet disclosed.