Armed assailants killed a woman in front of her shocked husband as they tried to rob the couple outside an upscale Newport Beach mall, police said.
The 69-year-old woman and her husband were standing outside a Barnes & Noble store in the Fashion Island shopping center around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when they were approached by two men.
A struggle ensued, during which one of the men fled on foot, firing a firearm several times, sources said.
The woman was then dragged into the parking lot and hit by a car driven by another man, police said.
The other alleged attacker then jumped into the car before it drove away, with the suspects firing shots as they led police on a high-speed chase.
A man is surrounded by officers as he is arrested. Police reportedly began a high-speed chase with two of the suspects
Photos show a white forensic police tent in the parking lot at the scene of the attack
Three suspects in custody after woman was murdered in front of her shocked husband
Shortly after the violent attack, police began a pursuit of the men, who were driving a white Toyota Camry.
They chased them into Los Angeles County after a pair of suspects jumped out of the car near Los Alamitos, CBS defeated.
The suspects’ car reached speeds of 110 mph during the chase on the 105 Freeway. Two jumped out of the car and began running around a South Gate neighborhood.
Police found one of the men hiding behind garbage bins outside a house and arrested him.
They also tracked down and arrested two other suspects in the deadly attack.
The victim, whose name has not been released, is believed to be from New Zealand.
According to police, her husband was not injured in the attack and no other people were injured in the shots.
“It’s a shock,” said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Oberon. “This is just not normal happening here.”
The 69-year-old woman and her husband were standing outside a Barnes & Noble shopping center in Fashion Island when they were approached by two men
General view of the Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach police and other law enforcement agencies are searching South Gate for suspects believed to be involved in a deadly robbery at Fashion Island Mall on Tuesday
Mayor Will O’Neill said he was “furious” when he heard the news of the attack, which he described as “appalling”.
“I am shocked. I mourn the loss of someone who died in our city because of crime… This is a tragedy and I am outraged.
“Newport Beach is a safe community and we are grieving the loss of someone,” he said.
“Honestly, to hell with these guys. … These are thugs. Every community is dealing with this right now. We have to do better as a society. We can’t tolerate this.”
