A group of suspects led police on a chase across the county after allegedly opening fire and knocking down a woman at Fashion Island Mall.
Investigators with the Newport Police Department said the incident began around 3:30 p.m. when suspects robbed a 69-year-old woman and her husband outside the Barnes and Noble. The suspects then jumped into a white car and ran over the woman, killing her.
Police said the suspects then opened fire as they fled.
Newport Beach firefighters said when they arrived, they found a person dead in the parking lot just outside the Barnes and Noble mall.
“I’m furious,” Mayor Will O’Neill said. “I’m horrified. I’m grieving the loss of a person who died in our city because of a crime… This is a tragedy and I’m furious.”
Witnesses said they heard three or four gunshots before everyone tried to run for cover. Police asked residents to avoid the area while they continued their investigation.
“I was expecting to have to go get my sunglasses fixed,” said customer Rachel West. “I didn’t know there was going to be a crime scene and a dead body when I got here.”
Authorities began tracking the alleged suspects shortly after the shooting. The car led police to Los Angeles County after a pair of suspects fled near Los Alamitos.
The suspects reached 110 mph while driving westbound on the 105 Freeway. After exiting the freeway, two other men jumped out of the car and began running into a nearby South Gate neighborhood.
Police found one of the suspects hiding behind trash cans in a nearby house.
KCAL News
Officers located and arrested three suspects, including the one found hiding behind trash cans in South Gate.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
