Three charged in murder of New Zealand woman in shooting at Fashion Island in Newport Beach

Newport Beach police said three men have been charged with homicide, robbery with a firearm and criminal conspiracy.
Photo: KCAL/CBS News/Screenshot

Three men have been charged with manslaughter after a New Zealand woman was killed outside a shopping centre in California yesterday.

The woman was hit by a car and killed during a robbery in Newport Beach on Tuesday (local time).

Newport Beach police identified the woman as Patricia McKay, 68.

McKay was killed outside the Fashion Island shopping mall around 3:30 p.m., according to US media reports. She was with her husband.

One of three men who fled the scene after a woman was run over and killed in Newport Beach, California.
Photo: KCAL/CBS News/Screenshot

RNZ's California correspondent Ira Spitzer said: Morning report It was an “upscale” shopping mall in a town in Orange County, about an hour from downtown Los Angeles.

“It's generally a relatively safe place, not a place where people would be afraid to walk around a mall.”

California has seen an increase in burglaries, carjackings and armed robberies in recent times, Spitzer said.

He said McKay's death was likely to reignite debate over recent legislative changes aimed at reducing the consequences for those who steal goods worth less than $900.

The New Zealand woman was killed outside a shopping centre in Newport Beach.
Photo: Provided / Google Maps

Local resident Jim Shab said: CBS News It was a pleasant shopping area in a generally quiet neighborhood.

“There's a lot of wealth in this area, so I guess people come where the wealth is.”

Newport Beach Mayor Will O'Neill said McKay's death was a heartbreaking tragedy.

“We're mourning the loss of someone today, a loss that should never have happened. Frankly, to hell with those guys, they came to our town knowing they were going to commit a crime and a woman died because of it.

What happened

In a statement, the Newport Beach Police Department said two people, one armed with a gun, attempted to rob McKay and another person near the Santa Rosa and Newport Centre driveways.

“During the robbery, a suspect fired three shots with a handgun, but no one was hit by the gunfire.”

McKay was hit by a car driven by a third suspect.

“The victim tragically died at the scene,” police said.

Steve Oberon, Newport Beach police public information officer, said McKay was dragged into the street and that's where she was struck by the car.

“There was a fight and they tried to rob them.

“When the vehicle fled, it hit the woman in the street.”

The three men left in the white sedan and a police chase ensued on the highway.

The three men, all Californians, eventually fled on foot and were arrested.

Leroyernest McCrary, 26, Jaden Cunningham, 18, and Malachi Darnell, 18, have been charged with homicide, robbery with a firearm and criminal conspiracy.

Newport Beach police said they are continuing their investigation.

New Zealand consular officials say they are providing assistance to Patricia McKay's family.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said authorities were in contact with the family but could not provide any further information for privacy reasons.

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