A tragic incident unfolded at Fashion Island, a shopping mall in Newport Beach, as a woman lost her life during a robbery attempt. Patricia McKay, a 68-year-old resident of New Zealand, was shopping with her husband on Tuesday, July 2, when the attack occurred. According to Newport Beach police Sgt. Steve Oberon, the couple was walking near the Barnes & Noble store around 3:30 p.m. when they were confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.
During the ensuing struggle, Patricia McKay was forcibly dragged into the parking lot, where the assailants’ accomplice awaited in a Toyota Camry. Seizing the opportunity, one of the robbers swiftly entered the vehicle, and the driver accelerated, tragically running over McKay. The second robber, still on foot, discharged his handgun three times before joining his partner in the Camry. The trio swiftly fled the scene in the car.
Fortunately, no one was injured by the gunfire, and McKay’s husband escaped unharmed. Law enforcement initiated a pursuit of the suspects, which led them onto northbound Interstate 405. At one point, the car briefly halted in Cypress, prompting one of the men to flee on foot. The remaining two continued driving until they abandoned the vehicle in a South Gate neighborhood, where they too fled on foot.
Following an intensive search, authorities managed to apprehend all three suspects, who have since been booked into jail on charges of murder, robbery with a firearm, and conspiracy. The individuals in custody include a 26-year-old man from Compton, as well as two 18-year-old men, one from Los Angeles and the other from Lancaster.
The brazen daylight robbery attempt sent shockwaves through the mall, leaving shoppers and employees startled. While the specific items stolen during the incident were not immediately disclosed by the police, the Consulate General of New Zealand in Los Angeles confirmed that they were providing assistance to the victim’s family.
