NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Authorities have charged three men with murder following a deadly robbery attempt at the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach, where a visitor from New Zealand was tragically killed. The suspects were apprehended after allegedly running over the 68-year-old woman during their escape.
The individuals facing charges are Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton; Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster; and Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles. They are at risk of receiving the death penalty if convicted due to the nature of the offenses, which include a special enhancement for committing murder during a robbery and targeting a senior citizen.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the three suspects are accused of causing the death of Patricia McKay from New Zealand. The incident occurred in the middle of the afternoon outside the upscale shopping center’s Barnes & Noble store, where McKay and her husband were confronted.
Details provided by prosecutors reveal a disturbing sequence of events. Masked assailants, identified as Darnell and Cunningham, reportedly targeted McKay’s husband first, assaulting him and attempting to forcibly take his watch. When they failed to seize the item, they turned their aggression toward McKay, who was laden with shopping bags at the time.
As she was dragged into the street, McCrary, who was behind the wheel of the getaway vehicle, accelerated towards her. Attempts by McKay’s husband to intervene were futile; he was forced out of the way as his wife was run over and dragged approximately 65 feet. McKay was pronounced dead at the scene, marking a grim conclusion to the ordeal.
During the suspects’ attempt to flee, a good Samaritan chased after Cunningham, prompting Darnell to fire multiple shots from within the moving car. Although the shots did not hit anyone, the dangerous behavior underscored the peril of the situation.
The chase eventually led police northward along San Diego (405) Freeway, ending in the Cypress area where Cunningham exited the vehicle and was soon apprehended. The pursuit continued to South Gate, where the remaining suspects, McCrary and Darnell, were captured.
While McKay’s husband survived the attack without serious injuries, the emotional and psychological scars are an unimaginable burden. He has chosen not to be identified in the aftermath of the incident.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed deep condolences on behalf of the local community and underscored the broader impact of the tragedy. “Our entire community extends its deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Patricia McKay and to the entire country of New Zealand as we mourn her senseless death in the commission of a crime that should never have happened,” Spitzer stated. He emphasized that such acts of lawlessness and violence would not be tolerated, reflecting a communal stand against such brutal crimes.
The charges against the suspects reflect the severity and diverse nature of their alleged actions. McCrary faces additional allegations of attempted second-degree robbery and reckless evading. Darnell is charged with similar counts, along with attempted murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Cunningham’s charges include attempted second-degree robbery.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the community remains shaken by the violence that interrupted an otherwise serene setting, leading to a stark reminder of the unpredictability and cruelty of crime.