Three Los Angeles County men charged with murder of New Zealand woman during Fashion Island robbery

Three Los Angeles County men have been charged with murder after killed a 68-year-old New Zealand woman in a robbery at Fashion Island in Newport Beach earlier this week.

Prosecutors said Friday that the three men, one of whom is a third striker, will face premeditated murder charges stemming from the fatal incident in which the woman, identified as Patricia McKay, was thrown into the street by the suspects after they robbed her on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

As they fled the scene, just outside the Barnes and Noble in the popular shopping center, they ran her over with their car, dragging her nearly 20 yards before she slipped out from under the car.

“The woman’s husband attempted to stop the driver from hitting his wife after he was thrown to the ground and had a gun pointed at him while two of the men attempted to steal his watch,” the OCDA press release said.

Prosecutors said the New Zealand couple were waiting for a ride when the suspect’s car pulled up next to them and two masked men jumped out. They threatened the victim’s 69-year-old husband at gunpoint and demanded his watch, forcing him to the ground.

When they couldn’t find his watch, they turned their attention to McKay, who was holding several shopping bags. They threw her to the ground and dragged her onto the street in front of their getaway car before speeding away with her trapped in the car.

As they drove away, one of the suspects ran to catch up with them after being left behind, but was closely followed by a Good Samaritan. Investigators say that during these moments, one of the robbers in the car shot the Samaritan several times. No one was hit by gunfire.

After fleeing the area, they led police on a chase that extended into the southern outskirts of Los Angeles County, with the suspects fleeing at speeds of over 100 miles per hour.

Eventually, the chase ended in the community of Cypress when two of the suspects jumped out of the car and attempted to run away on foot. The driver was immediately arrested, while the other two were taken into custody after being found behind trash cans in South Gate.

They were identified as 26-year-old Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary of Los Angeles, 18-year-old Malachi Edward Darnell of Los Angeles and 18-year-old Jaden Cuningham of Lancaster.

The statement said all three, who remain in custody without bail, face the death penalty if convicted of the special circumstances murder of the victim, Patricia McKay, which is aggravated by causing the death of a person over the age of 65.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the three could face the death penalty. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom a moratorium on the death penalty in California introduced.

McCrary, who has already been convicted of residential burglary in 2018, criminal threat in 2020 and robbery in 2023, was also charged with attempted second-degree robbery and felony reckless eluding.

Darnell was also charged with two felonies: attempted second-degree robbery and attempted murder, as well as two aggravated felonies: personal use of a firearm and personal discharge of a firearm.

In addition, Cunningham was charged with attempted second-degree robbery.

“Our entire community extends its deepest condolences to the loved ones of Patricia McKay and the entire country of New Zealand as we mourn 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. “Our shopping centers and malls have become hunting grounds for criminals who prey on innocent shoppers to rob them because our governor and our legislature refuse to hold anyone accountable for their actions. … This is Orange County and we refuse to accept that this is the new normal. Criminals will be held accountable and violence will never be acceptable.”