Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s office recently announced that three suspects were charged with special circumstances murder for robbing a 68-year-old New Zealand woman in Fashion Island, Newport Beach, and fatally running over her while trying to escape.
The three suspects are Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, 26, and Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, from Los Angeles, as well as Jaden Cunningham, 18, from Lancaster.
On the 2nd of this month, New Zealand tourists Patricia McKay and her husband Doug McKay were waiting for a car after shopping at Fashion Island. A white Toyota Camry pulled up next to them, and two masked men, Darnell and Cunningham, got out of the car. They attacked Doug, pointing a gun at his head, demanding his watch, and pushing him to the ground.
Cunningham was accused of assaulting Patricia, throwing her to the ground, stealing her shopping bag, and dragging her to the front of the car driven by McCrary. Doug attempted to protect his wife from being run over and jumped in front of the car. McCrary accelerated, driving off and dragging Patricia approximately 65 feet.
As McCrary fled and ran over Patricia, Cunningham tried to catch up to the escaping vehicle. A bystander attempted to stop him from getting back into the car, and Darnell shot the bystander. Cunningham then caught up to McCrary’s car.
Following the incident, Cunningham was arrested in Cypress, while McCrary and Darnell were apprehended in South Gate. All three suspects are currently detained without bail.
In addition to the special circumstances murder charges, the trio faces additional charges. McCrary, the oldest of the group, is charged with felony attempted second-degree robbery and felony reckless driving escape. He had previously been convicted of burglary (2018), criminal threats (2020), and robbery (2023), all in Los Angeles County.
Darnell faces charges of attempted felony second-degree robbery, attempted murder, personal firearm use, and personal firearm discharge. Cunningham is charged with attempted felony second-degree robbery.
According to New Zealand media reports, Doug McKay served as chairman of the board at the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and is a friend of the current New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Spitzer stated, “Our entire community extends our deepest sympathy to the McKay family and all of New Zealand, mourning the senseless death caused by a crime that should never have occurred. Our society will not tolerate unlawful and violent behavior. Orange County is steadfast in rejecting this as the new normal. Criminals will be held accountable, and violence will never be condoned.”
“Our shopping centers and malls have become hunting grounds for criminals who track and rob unsuspecting shoppers because the governor and the legislative bodies refuse to hold anyone accountable,” Spitzer added. He emphasized that criminal behavior must have consequences, and it is unbearable for an elderly woman to lose her life while simply enjoying shopping with her husband. Elected officials in Sacramento need to realize that “this is the result of their weak-on-crime policies that not only embolden criminals but also sacrifice public safety.”