A New Zealand woman killed during a bungled armed robbery in the US has been named as the wife of prominent businessman Doug McKay.
Patricia McKay and her husband were outside the Fashion Island Mall in Newport, California when two men tried to rob them at about 3.30pm on Tuesday, local time.
Newport Beach Police Sergeant Steve Oberon told Orange County Register she was dragged into the parking lot near the Barnes & Noble store during a struggle and was run over by the suspects who fled the scene.
Police said the suspects then opened fire as they drove away, but failed to hit anybody. All three suspects were later taken into custody after a brief pursuit.
Doug McKay did not suffer any injuries, Oberon said. The pair were in the US on holiday.
Family spokesperson Nick Hern told Stuff: “No words can express our sadness as we try to come to terms with the loss of our mother, wife, and friend Patricia.
“We ask for privacy at this time as we work through this as a family,” he said.
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson said in a post on social media she was in absolute shock.
“Trish was amazing – funny, loyal, and loving. My absolute deepest sympathies to Doug and her family.”
A friend back in New Zealand, Kevin Mcdonald, said he heard the news from a “very good friend”.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s unbelievable, but it’s true, sickening actually in the circumstances.”
He said the couple were in Florida for a “family situation.”
He said Patricia McKay was a “gentle, genuine sort of person”.
“It’s an absolutely terrible thing for her to deal with. She’s the nicest, most gentle and caring kind of person.”
McDonald said the situation was “more than horrific.”
“There will be a lot of devastated people around Auckland at the moment.”
Bozenka Mrkusich lives around the corner from the McKays’ Remuera home and often gets their parcels and letters mistakenly delivered to her place.
On occasion garden supplies for the McKays have been dumped on her grass verge and the odd babysitter has mistakenly turned up to her home.
But she says the confusion in addresses has had a pleasant consequence in that she has gotten to know the McKays.
Mrkusich described Patricia McKay as a kind and welcoming person who was community-minded.
“She was a very elegant lady⦠I just can’t speak highly enough of her. This is not meant to happen while you are on holiday.”
She said the McKays had deserved to enjoy their retirement but were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“It is such a tragic situation⦠It’s actually horrifying, I’m horrified it’s happened to them.”
Doug McKay has a long history in business spanning more than 35 years and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and local government in 2015.
The Newport Beach Police Department has identified three suspects. Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster, Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, and Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton, ABC7 reported.
All three were booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with firearm and conspiracy.
“It is a shock,” Oberon said. “It just doesn’t happen normally here.”
“Newport Beach is a safe community and we’re mourning the loss of someone,” Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill said.
“Frankly, to hell with these guys. ⦠These are thugs. Every community is now dealing with this. We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this,” O’Neill added.
The Newport Beach Fire Department said they found the woman dead in the parking lot just outside of the shopping centre’s Barnes and Noble.
Ama Lawagy, who was working at a hair care store nearby, told Orange County Register that everyone around started to run when the incident unfolded. Three people, she said, ran into the store to shelter as police arrived minutes later.
“I’ve never witnessed anything like this,” shopper Jim Shav told freelance news agency OC Hawk.
“[It’s] the first time I’ve been to the shopping centre where they’ve shut down parts of it because of [a shooting].”
Parts of the mall was re-opened on Tuesday evening.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade spokesperson said New Zealand consular officials were providing assistance to the family.
This article was originally published on Stuff.co.nz and has been reproduced here with permission.
