Woman killed when struck by suspect's car after robbery attempt at Fashion Island in Newport Beach

A 69-year-old woman was killed after a robbery attempt Tuesday afternoon at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, police said.

Officers responded to the area near the Barnes & Noble bookstore around 3:30 p.m.

According to the Newport Beach Police Department, the woman and her husband were walking when two suspects suddenly approached them.

They tried to rob the couple and a struggle ensued, police said. The suspects then tried taking off in a white Toyota Camry.

"One of the suspects ran while the vehicle fled and actually struck the female victim," said Newport Beach Police Public Information Officer Steve Oberon. "The male suspect that ran got back into the vehicle at which point some rounds were fired from a handgun and the vehicle fled the scene."

Initially, reports indicated the woman had been shot but police later confirmed she had been fatally struck by the Camry. No one was struck by gunfire, police said.

During a press conference Tuesday, police said at one point, one of the suspects had dragged the woman on the street during the robbery.

A total of three suspects were taken into custody after a brief pursuit.

Police said one suspect was arrested in Cypress and two others were arrested in South Gate in Los Angeles County.

AIR7 captured several Newport Beach police officers surrounding a home in South Gate, some of whom had their guns drawn, pointing toward the back portion of the home.

Shopping mall scare

As the chaos was unfolding, one woman who works just a few stores down from where the shooting occurred, said initially, she wasn't sure what was happening.

"A lady went in with her daughter, screaming like, 'There's a shooter! There's a shooter,'" she recalled. "We ended up locking down with a lot of customers in there and then waiting."

The employee said her store was locked down for about an hour until they were all released.

"There was just a lot of people who were afraid, just a very scary thing when you're working," she said.

This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.