Woman run over, killed after armed robbery attempt in Newport Beach

At least two suspects are in custody after running over a woman while attempting to flee the scene of a robbery outside a sprawling, high-end shopping mall in Orange County Tuesday.

Authorities said the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. when a group of suspects approached a husband and wife outside a Barnes and Noble bookstore at Fashion Island shopping center, located at 401 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach, and attempted to rob them.

Officials at the Newport Beach Police Department said a struggle ensued and shots were fired, though no one was hit.

Two of the suspects jumped into a white sedan in an attempt to flee the scene and ran over the woman and killed her.

The suspects then led officers on a high-speed pursuit into Los Angeles County where they were eventually taken into custody in South Gate. A third suspect was located Cypress, police said.

Aerial footage of the scene captured by Sky5 showed a heavy police presence outside the Atrium Shops & Cafes where a canopy had been set up to cover the deceased victim while detectives conducted the investigation.  

In a message posted to X, formerly Twitter, Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill asked the public to avoid the area of Fashion Island.