A 69-year-old tourist was killed at a California shopping center when a crew of armed goons ran her over with their car during a brazen broad-daylight robbery.
Newport Beach police said the victim and her husband, thought to be visiting from New Zealand, were approached by the three crooks who tried to rob them outside a Barnes & Noble bookstore at Fashion Mall on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The husband scuffled with the thieves, who then dragged the woman into the parking lot and ran her over with their white Toyota Camry before they fled, the outlet said.
Police said the suspects fired shots as they drove away.
“About 20 people were running and screaming, ‘Someone’s shooting!’” one witness told the newspaper. “They locked us in the restaurant and I hear for sure one person was dead and I think several injured.”
Police pursued the fleeing suspects in a high-speed chase that reached 110 mph on the westbound 105 Freeway, CBS News said in another report.
The three accused crooks jumped out and took off on foot but were later tracked down and taken into custody by Newport Beach police — including one thug found hiding behind trash cans.
The victim and her husband have not been identified.
They were tourists from New Zealand, according to CBS News, and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told local media it was “aware of the reports of the death of a New Zealander in California.”
“Consular officials are seeking further information,” the department told the New Zealand Herald.
The suspects have yet to be identified.
“Frankly, to hell with these guys,” Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill told a press conference.
“They came to our city knowing that they were going to commit crime and a woman is dead today because of it. It’s heartbreaking. It’s a tragedy.”
