A 68-year-old tourist from New Zealand was killed in front of her husband by a group of robbers, who opened fire in the parking lot of a California mall before running the victim down with a car.
A pair of suspects accosted the couple on Tuesday around 3:30 p.m., near the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Fashion Island Mall.
Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Oberon told the Orange County Register a “struggle ensued,” during which the woman, identified on Wednesday as Patricia McKay, was dragged out into the parking lot. There, McKay was fatally struck and run over by a white Toyota Camry, driven by a third suspect.
One of the suspects then fled the scene on foot, spraying bullets across the parking lot in his bid to escape law enforcement, Oberon said.
The other two raced off in the Camry and similarly opened fire as they sped away from the shopping center in Newport Beach. They led responding authorities on a cross-county chase, from Orange County into Los Angeles County, with speeds topping 110 mph.
The suspects drove all the way to the South Gate neighborhood, at which point the duo exited their vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. They were both arrested shortly thereafter.
Oberon said the third suspect was also taken into custody nearby, in Cypress.
The suspects have since been identified as L.A. County residents Jaden Cunningham, 18, Malachi Darnell, 18, and Leroyernest McCrary, 26, according to the Newport Beach Police Department.
They were booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with firearm and conspiracy.
