Newport Beach police say three men were charged with homicide, robbery with a firearm and criminal conspiracy. Photo: KCAL News / CBS / Screenshot
Three men have been charged with homicide after the death of a New Zealand woman 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 have named the woman as Patricia McKay, 68.
McKay was killed outside the Fashion Island shopping centre at about 3.30pm. US media are reporting she was with her husband.
One of three men fleeing the scene after a woman was run over and killed in Newport Beach, California. Photo: KCAL News / CBS / Screenshot
RNZ's correspondent in California Ira Spitzer told Morning Report it was an "upscale" shopping centre in an Orange County town about an hour away from downtown Los Angeles.
"It is typically a relatively safe place, not somewhere where people would be scared to walk around in a shopping centre."
California had seen an increase in car break-ins, car jackings and armed robberies in recent times, Spitzer said.
He said McKay's death was likely to reignite debate about recent law changes to lower the consequences for those stealing goods worth less than US$900.
The NZ woman was killed outside a shopping centre in Newport Beach. Photo: Supplied / Google Maps
Local man Jim Shab told CBS News it was a nice shopping area in a generally calm area.
"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 never should have happened. Frankly, the hell with these guys, they came into our city knowing the were going to commit a crime and a woman is dead 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 Santa Rosa and Newport Centre drives.
"During the robbery, one suspect fired a handgun three times, though no one was struck by gunfire."
McKay was hit by a car being driven by a third suspect.
"The victim tragically died at the scene," police said.
Newport Beach Police Public Information Officer Steve Oberon said McKay was pulled into the street and that was where she was hit by the car.
"There was a struggle and they were attempting to rob them.
"When the vehicle fled the scene, struck the female, in the street."
The three men left in the white sedan and a police chase on the freeway ensued.
The three, all Californians, eventually fled on foot and were arrested.
Leroyernest McCrary, 26, Jaden Cunningham, 18, and Malachi Darnell, 18, were charged with homicide, robbery with a firearm and criminal conspiracy.
Newport Beach police said they were continuing to investigate.
New Zealand consular officials say they are providing assistance to the family of Patricia McKay.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) spokesperson said officials were in contact with the family but could not provide any more information for privacy reasons.
