Additional Coverage:
- Woman killed when struck by suspect’s car after robbery attempt at Fashion Island in Newport Beach (newsbreak.com)
A 69-year-old woman died after an attempted robbery escalated at Fashion Island in Newport Beach on Tuesday afternoon, according to police. The incident occurred near the Barnes & Noble bookstore around 3:30 p.m.
Authorities reported that the elderly woman and her husband were confronted by two assailants. During the attempted robbery, a struggle broke out, and the suspects attempted to flee the scene in a white Toyota Camry.
Newport Beach Police Public Information Officer Steve Oberon explained, “One suspect fled on foot while the Camry drove away, striking the female victim in the process. The fleeing suspect re-entered the car, and shots were fired from within the vehicle before it sped away from the scene.”
Initially, it was believed the woman had been shot, but it was later confirmed that she was fatally injured by the vehicle itself. There were no injuries from gunfire.
During a media briefing, Officer Oberon revealed that the woman was dragged across the street by one of the suspects during the robbery attempt. Her husband is believed to have escaped physical injury.
The police pursuit that followed resulted in the arrest of three suspects. One was apprehended in Cypress, and two others were captured in South Gate, Los Angeles County. Footage showed several law enforcement officers with drawn weapons at a residence in South Gate.
Amidst the confusion, a nearby store employee described the terror of the moment. She recounted a woman and her daughter rushing into the store, yelling about a shooter, which led to the store being locked down with customers inside for about an hour.
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill expressed his outrage over the incident, labeling the attackers as “thugs” and the event as a shocking crime against the community. O’Neill expressed his frustrations, stating, “We have to do better as a society.
We cannot tolerate this.” Although he commended the quick response of the police, he acknowledged that it does not undo the tragedy.
Despite the incident, O’Neill reassured the public of the mall’s robust security measures and affirmed that he would confidently visit again with his family.
Police are continuing their investigation into the deadly incident.