Three men charged with murder in Newport Beach tourist’s death – NBC Los Angeles

Three men charged Friday with the murder of a 68-year-old New Zealand woman who was robbed and run over at the Beach Fashion Island shopping center in Newport face the death penalty if convicted, the Orange County district attorney’s office said.

The prosecutor said Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Los Angeles, Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, and Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster, were charged with special circumstances for throwing the elderly tourist into the street and dragging her to death under a getaway car.

“Our entire community extends its deepest condolences to Patricia McKay’s family and the entire country of New Zealand and mourns her senseless death in the commission of a crime that should never have happened. Lawlessness and violence will not be tolerated in our society,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Prosecutors said McCrary had previously been convicted of burglary in 2018, criminal threat in 2020 and robbery in 2023. Prosecutors said he also faced charges of attempted second-degree robbery and reckless evasion of taxes.

One of the three men arrested for attempting to rob and then allegedly kill a New Zealand tourist has a criminal past. Amber Frias reports for NBC4 News on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Darnell was additionally charged with attempted second-degree robbery and attempted murder, along with a penalty-enhancing charge of private use of a firearm and discharge of a firearm. Cunningham was also charged with attempted second-degree robbery.

All three are charged in connection with the robbery and killing that occurred outside the mall around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and left McKay dead in the parking lot.

According to police and prosecutors, Darnell and Cunningham, both masked, approached McKay and her husband as they passed by the Barnes & Noble store.

Prosecutors said one of the suspects put a gun to McKay’s 69-year-old husband’s head and demanded his watch while forcing him to the ground. When they couldn’t get the watch, the suspects allegedly turned their attention to McKay, who was holding several grocery bags.

Cunningham is said to have dragged McKay onto the street in front of a getaway car driven by McCrary.

Prosecutors said McKay’s husband jumped in front of the vehicle to protect his wife, but McCrary, who was in the car with Darnell, sped up and forced the husband out of the way. He then ran over McKay, pinning her under the vehicle and dragging her 65 feet.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. Cunningham was still on foot and ran toward the moving vehicle, pursued by a Good Samaritan, whereupon Darnell fired several shots at the pursuer from the car.

No one was hit by the gunfire. Cunningham eventually got into the vehicle and the trio drove away. The suspects led authorities on a chase north on the 405 Freeway.

During the chase, the driver stopped in the Cypress area and Cunningham jumped out of the car but was later arrested. The other two suspects continued the pursuit to South Gate, where they were both arrested.

Police said McKay’s husband was not seriously injured in the robbery. His identity has not yet been determined.