A tragic incident unfolded at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island mall on Tuesday, resulting in the death of a 68-year-old tourist from New Zealand. The victim, identified as Patricia McKay, was struck and killed by a suspect’s vehicle during a botched robbery attempt. The Newport Beach Police Department released the names of the three suspects in custody: Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster; Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles; and Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton. All three have been booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with a firearm, and conspiracy.
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. near the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the popular shopping mall. According to police, McKay and her husband were walking when two suspects approached them and attempted to rob the couple. During the struggle, one of the suspects dragged McKay into the street, where she was fatally struck by a white Toyota Camry driven by the third suspect. Despite initial reports of gunfire, investigators later confirmed that no one was struck by bullets.
Officer Steve Oberon, a spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department, detailed the chaotic scene. “One of the suspects ran while the vehicle fled and actually struck the female victim,” Oberon said. “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.”
The suspects were apprehended after a brief pursuit. One was arrested in Cypress, while the other two were captured in South Gate. The police confirmed that McKay’s husband was not injured during the incident.
The arrests shocked the quiet neighborhood of Cypress, where Bob Safreed witnessed the dramatic police operation. “They were right down here, he was hiding in the bushes right here in the flowers,” Safreed recounted. “Evidently, he got out of the car here and he ran in the yard and was trying to hide. I went to the window, and I looked up and there’s a police officer, and he had a rifle pointed at the house.”
Across the street, Rita Ireland also saw the commotion. “They could have walked in the house because I had it just wide open,” she said. “Just trying to get fresh air, so it really scared me just to know that the front door was wide open and all the windows were open and they could have chosen here to run in instead of hiding in their yard or in their house.”
The crime left many in disbelief. “I feel sad for our visitors to come here and it’s just not safe anywhere,” Ireland said. Safreed added, “We’re allowing these people on the streets with guns and crime. Fortunately, these cops around here don’t put up with it, but they put up with it in Los Angeles and New York and all over the place, but local officers around here, they’re top-notch. They keep an eye on stuff. They’re good people.”
Desley Simpson, the Deputy Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand, expressed her condolences to McKay’s family on Facebook, saying she was “in absolute shock.” Simpson described Patricia McKay as “amazing – funny, loyal, and loving,” and extended her deepest sympathies to McKay’s husband, Doug McKay, a prominent Auckland businessman.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also spoke out, calling the couple “great people.” He emphasized the need for societal improvement, stating, “We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this.”
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill condemned the suspects during a news conference, calling them “creeps” and decrying the “stunning, staggering” attack. “Newport Beach is a safe community and we’re mourning the loss of someone,” O’Neill said. “Frankly, to hell with these guys … These are thugs. Every community is now dealing with this. We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this.”
O’Neill praised law enforcement officers for apprehending the suspects but acknowledged that their efforts could not bring McKay back. He also emphasized that the mall’s owners have “phenomenal security,” insisting that it remains a safe place for shoppers. “Frankly, I would have no problem coming back here with my family,” he said.
The incident has left a lasting impact on the community and beyond. A woman who was shopping in the area at the time described the situation as a “hullabaloo.” She expressed gratitude for the quick police response but declined to give her name. Another witness, a young man at Cucina Enoteca in Fashion Island, recounted the chaos. “About 20 people were running and screaming, ‘Someone’s shooting!’ They locked us in the restaurant,” he said.
The suspects’ criminal history has also come to light. McCrary, who also goes by the name LeRoy Ernest McCrary, has a history of crimes in L.A. County, including being a narcotics addict in possession of a firearm and robbery. He received a concurrent sentence for both convictions and got two years of probation and three years in state prison, with the sentence suspended. McCrary was also arrested on suspicion of driving with a suspended license in both 2018 and 2021.
The Newport Beach Fire Department reported that a person was found dead in the parking lot adjacent to the bookstore. Authorities notified nearby residents to avoid the shopping plaza as they investigated. Police were seen on-site guiding the public to safety, and helicopters were flying overhead.
The tragic loss of Patricia McKay has left a profound impact on her family, friends, and the community. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on seeking justice for McKay and ensuring the safety of the community.
Source: KABC, City News Service, Associated Press
