Tourist from New Zealand killed in California shopping mall robbery

( KTLA ) – Authorities have released the identity of a tourist who was killed during a robbery attempt at Newport Beach’s upscale Fashion Island shopping mall on Tuesday.

Patricia McKay, 68, was walking with her husband when two thieves accosted them with a handgun outside the mall’s Barnes and Noble bookstore at about 3:30 p.m., according to the Newport Beach Police Department.

A struggle ensued at which point a third person driving the getaway vehicle, a white Toyota Camry, pulled up to the scene. One of the robbers fired several shots, and all three fled in the sedan, running over McKay as they drove off, police said.

McKay, who was visiting from New Zealand, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband was not injured, and no one was struck by the gunfire.

Police located the Camry a short time later, but the driver sped away, NBPD said. Officers pursued the car northbound on the 405 Freeway and eventually to Cypress, where the suspects ditched the car and tried to run away but did not get far.

Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 28, of Compton; Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster; and Malachi Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, were arrested and booked on charges of homicide, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy.

At a news conference Tuesday evening, Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill praised police for quickly apprehending the suspects. He also expressed sadness and anger at the brazen nature of the crime.

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“You know, frankly, to hell with these guys,” O’Neill told reporters. “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.”

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact NBPD Detective K Markwald at kmarkwald@nbpd.org .

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