Three suspects are in custody after running over a 69-year-old woman while attempting to flee the scene of a robbery outside a sprawling, high-end shopping mall in Orange County Tuesday.
Authorities said the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. when a group of suspects approached a husband and wife outside a Barnes and Noble bookstore at Fashion Island shopping center, located at 401 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach, and attempted to rob them.
Officials at the Newport Beach Police Department said that when a struggle ensued, a getaway driver in a white Toyota Camry pulled up. One of the attackers tried to jump in, but turned and ran off, firing a gun in the process.
Fortunately, no one was struck by the gunfire.
“The other [suspect] got in the car and the suspect vehicle drove away, striking the female,” Newport PD Sgt. Steve Oberon said. “Tragically and unfortunately, she was deceased there in the roadway.”
Police said the two men in the getaway car eventually picked up their accomplice who had fired the shots and the trio led police in a high-speed pursuit into Los Angeles County, with the three men ditching the car in South Gate and attempting to flee on foot.
All three were taken into custody shortly thereafter, authorities said.
Aerial footage of the scene captured by Sky5 showed a heavy police presence outside the Atrium Shops & Cafes where a canopy had been set up to cover the deceased 69-year-old while detectives conducted the investigation.
Sgt. Oberon said it’s unclear exactly what the men were after, if it was jewelry or shopping bags or something else.
“All of that will come out in the investigation,” he said. “I don’t have that information at this time.”
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill told KTLA that there was an overwhelming and immediate response from Newport PD and neighboring agencies, which led to the quick arrest of the suspects.
“You know, frankly, to hell with these guys,” O’Neill added. “They knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to come into our city to commit a crime and a woman is dead because of it.”
Investigators told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe that the victim’s husband did not appear to be physically injured during the botched robbery attempt, but he is now forced to deal the agonizing loss of his wife in such a tragic manner.