Good Samaritan shot at during fatal Fashion Island robbery wishes he could have done more

• July 7, 2024

Beau Bayless was sitting outside Sushi Roku at Fashion Island on Tuesday, July 5, smoking a vape pen, when he heard a commotion near the Barnes & Noble.

“I didn’t think anything of it or even bother to look that direction until someone said, ‘Oh my God, that woman’s getting robbed’,” Bayless, 43, of Fountain Valley, said in a phone interview Saturday. “I saw her in the street fighting two gentlemen for her purse, so I tried to get over there to help her out.”

Bayless knew he had to intervene. “It could be someone’s grandma, could be someone’s mom,” he said. “She needed help.”

But, he mused, “I wasn’t quick enough.”

By the time he got there, three men had attacked and run over 68-year-old Patricia McKay, a New Zealand tourist, dragging her 65 feet under a car and killing her, authorities said. In the moments that followed, Bayless managed to tackle one of the suspects to the ground but was shot at by another. The trio fled in a white Toyota Camry, but Newport Beach police would arrest them hours later in Cypress and South Gate.

Bayless wishes he could have done more, but is hopeful the McKay family will see justice done.

“Anything that’s going to help that poor family,” Bayless said. “I feel so bad for all of them.”

Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, 26, Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18 and Jaden Cunningham, 18, were charged with special-circumstances murder with a sentencing enhancement for causing the death of someone older than 65, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday. They also face attempted robbery charges and other felonies. That the murder occurred in the commission of a robbery could make it a death-penalty case.

‘I saw the barrel’

McKay and her husband were outside the Barnes & Noble bookstore with their packages, waiting to be picked up, when the Camry approached and two masked men, identified by the DA’s office as Darnell and Cunningham, got out and fought with McKay’s 69-year-old husband, pointing a gun to his head, forcing him to the ground and demanding his watch, the DA’s office said.

Unsuccessful, they then turned their attention to McKay, who was holding shopping bags. Cunningham grabbed the bags and threw McKay to the ground, then dragged her into the street in front of the Camry, prosecutors said.

Bayless happened to be at the mall visiting his former coworkers at the sushi bar when the chaos unfolded.

He saw the driver of the Camry, identified by the DA’s office as McCrary, hit McKay once, causing her to fall on her back. McKay’s husband then went to the driver’s side of the car, waved his hands and told the driver “She’s down, don’t go, don’t go,” and that’s when the second suspect, identified as Darnell, got in the car.

McCrary then accelerated again, running over McKay, Bayless said.

“I thought they were leaving the third guy behind and that’s about the time I got involved,” Bayless said. “They stopped the car for the third one to get in and I clotheslined him and we both went down.”

He said he had his hands on the third suspect’s shoulder and sweatshirt when a bullet went by both of their heads. The suspect “went left really quick” and Bayless saw one of the other suspects out of the car pointing a gun in his direction.

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“I saw the barrel and realized he was shooting at me and I knew I had to let him go,” Bayless said.

He was not hit by the gunfire. McKay’s husband also escaped injury, officials said.

As a last-ditch effort, Bayless tried to throw a rock at the Camry, to cause damage that would help police identify the car.

But he missed.

A tragic loss

DA’s officials have said Cunningham was the one who attempted to flee on foot, while Darnell was the gunman. Newport Beach police spokesman Sgt. Steve Oberon on Saturday confirmed Bayless’ account of the shooting.

Bayless said he found McKay’s wallet, noticed New Zealand credit cards and “that’s when I figured they weren’t from here.” He said one of the chefs from Sushi Roku attempted CPR on McKay before police and paramedics arrived.

McKay’s husband was identified by the New Zealand Herald as Doug McKay, a prominent Auckland businessman and former board chairman of the Bank of New Zealand and Eden Park Trust.

Though Bayless wasn’t able to stop the man identified as Cunningham, Newport Beach police caught and arrested all three suspects within hours. They were scheduled to appear in court Friday, but were not taken from jail due to “medical holds,” and were rescheduled to appear Monday.

Prosecutors say McCrary has convictions in Los Angeles County for residential burglary, criminal threats and robbery.

Bayless said he went to Fashion Island that day to visit former coworkers at the restaurant. He now works at a Costa Mesa restaurant and is training employees preparing to open another one.

He said he’s never seen anything like what he experienced at Fashion Island on Tuesday. “Nothing with guns, nothing like this. This is kind of off the beaten path.

“It’s a tragic loss that shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are just with the family right now. I feel so bad for them.”

​ Orange County Register 

Lakers re-sign Max Christie to 4-year contract

• July 6, 2024

The Lakers’ first move of free agency was made official Saturday afternoon, with the franchise announcing it had re-signed Max Christie.

While the organization didn’t announce the terms of the deal, Christie is returning on a four-year, $32 million contract, with the final year of the deal being a player option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Christie was slated to become a restricted free agent last Sunday when teams were officially allowed to start negotiating deals with free agents not previously on their rosters, but the Lakers and Christie agreed to a new contract an hour before that negotiating period opened.

In a new league rule, teams could start negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster the day after the NBA Finals ended June 17.

The 21-year-old Christie, who doesn’t turn 22 until February, was the Lakers’ second-round draft pick in 2022 (No. 32 overall).

He’s shown flashes of a 3-and-D skill set in his two seasons with the Lakers, specifically as an on-ball defender, spot-up shooter and defensive rebounder. His role fluctuated last season under previous coach Darvin Ham.

Since joining the Lakers, Christie has averaged 3.8 points and two rebounds and shot 37.8% on 3-pointers in 108 regular-season games (10 starts).

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During head coach JJ Redick’s introductory news conference June 24, Redick and Lakers General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka mentioned Christie when discussing the organization’s player-development plans.

The free agency moratorium, a period in which teams may not sign most free agents or make trades, ended at 9:01 a.m. Saturday.

​ Orange County Register 

Euro 2024: Netherlands comes back to stun Turkey

• July 6, 2024

BERLIN — The Netherlands came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday and book its place in the European Championship semifinals.

An own goal from Mert Muldur in the 76th minute, only six after Stefan De Vrij canceled Samet Akaydin’s first-half header for Turkey, was enough for the Dutch in the last of the quarterfinals.

The Netherlands will face England in the second semifinal in Dortmund on Wednesday. Spain faces France in the first on Tuesday.

Turkey was without defender Merih Demiral, who was suspended for two matches by UEFA for making a nationalistic hand gesture after scoring in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Austria. The gesture is used by Turkish nationalists and associated with an ultra-nationalist group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was at the game after he changed his plans because of the diplomatic row with Germany over Demiral’s gesture.

German interior minister Nancy Faeser had said Demiral used his celebration “as a platform for racism” and federal minister Cem Özdemir, a German politician of Turkish descent, said the gesture “stands for terror, fascism.”

Many Turkish fans made the gesture on their way to Berlin’s Olympiastadion, and again during Turkey’s national anthem before the game.

The Dutch made a better start, but Turkey’s defenders dug in to limit the impact of Cody Gapko, Xavi Simons and Memphis Depay. Turkey lined up with five at the back without the ball, as it had in the win against Austria, and gradually improved.

Akaydin rewarded a period of Turkish pressure by scoring in the 35th. Arda Guler delivered a butter-soft cross for the defender to head in off the underside of the crossbar.

It set off wild celebrations among Turkey’s coaching staff and fans. Guler was swamped in the coaching area with hugs, while fans in the west end of the stadium set off flares. Most stayed standing after the goal.

Turkish supporters greatly outnumbered their orange-clad counterparts in a city that’s home to a large community of people with Turkish roots. Most are descendants of Turkish “guest workers” who arrived in what was West Germany to help rebuild the post-war economy. Germany is home to some 3 million Turks or people with Turkish roots, making them the country’s largest ethnic minority, and the team has enjoyed fevered support at Euro 2024.

The Dutch pushed for an equalizer before the break to a chorus of whistles.

Dutch coach Ronald Koeman, who won Euro ’88 as a player with the Netherlands, reacted at the break by sending on big forward Wout Weghorst for Steven Bergwijn.

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Weghorst’s presence gave the Dutch wingers a target, leading to a period of intense pressure.

Guler hit the post with a free kick, but it was an isolated effort as Dutch pressure continued.

It finally paid off in the 70th when De Vrij was left free to head in Depay’s cross.

Suddenly the Dutch supporters could be heard again, and they were cheering again six minutes later when Gapko forced the own goal from Muldur by getting in front of the defender to Denzel Dumfries’ low cross.

​ Orange County Register 

Tyler Anderson dominates as Angels’ hitters end drought

• July 6, 2024

CHICAGO —When Kevin Pillar gave his teammates a speech before the game about how it was his “mentality” that allowed him to reach 10 years of big-league service, it resonated with Tyler Anderson.

“And I felt like for me, that’s something I can relate to,” the Angels left-hander said. “I feel like the last few starts I’d gotten away from that, so just trying to go back to being the way I am normally, and trying to compete more than anything. That was really rewarding for me, more than anything else.”

Anderson took that attitude to the mound for eight dominant innings in the Angels’ 7-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon, ending the team’s five-game losing streak.

“He gave us what we needed today,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He did a tremendous job.”

Anderson was good enough that he could have won even if the Angels (37-51) hadn’t finally woken up at the plate. After they scored one run in the previous three games, they scored in each of the first five innings.

That gave Anderson the freedom to pound the strike zone, with a first-pitch strike to 18 of 27 hitters.

“If I’m ahead in the count, I can throw whatever I want,” Anderson said. “You have a lot more options than when you’re behind. I had been falling behind a lot the last few starts, so that was a big thing for me.”

Anderson gave up a leadoff single and then retired the next 13 Cubs in a row. He allowed only three singles, retiring 24 of 27 hitters. Chicago didn’t have a runner reach second base. Anderson struck out 10, equaling his career high. He threw just 98 pitches, and only two of them cracked 90 mph.

“Eleven ground balls, 10 K’s and three fly balls,” Washington said. “That’s about as good as it gets really.”

Anderson has been good all season, compiling a 2.86 ERA in 18 starts and 110 innings. It’s been a remarkable turnaround from his 5.43 ERA in the first year of his three-year, $39-million deal with the Angels.

Now, he’s got a good shot to be named an All-Star when the full rosters are announced Sunday.

“It’s a cool honor if you can get it,” Anderson said. “I think for me, this year, I felt like my goal was to go out and compete and give the guys a chance. Last year, I didn’t do that very well. Wasn’t myself. This year, the whole thing is about just trying to go out and compete.”

Anderson did to the Cubs exactly what pitchers had been doing to the Angels this week. The Angels were shut out on 92 pitches Wednesday, and they saw just 95 pitches in scoring one run on Friday.

Looking to work deeper counts Saturday, the Angels began the day with a promising plate appearance. Nolan Schanuel drew a nine-pitch walk. Schanuel came around to score, and the Angels added a run in the second, three in the third and single runs in the fourth and fifth.

Jo Adell capped the scoring with a 431-foot homer in the fifth. It was his 13th of the season. Adell, who has been slumping lately, said Pillar also inspired him before the homer with a talk about his approach at the plate.

“It was just kind of a cool moment to kind of take a little bit of his experience and his advice and be able to go and produce,” Adell said.

Everyone in the lineup had a hit or a walk by the fourth inning.

Schanuel reached base four times, including two hits. Taylor Ward reached three times. Keston Hiura and Logan O’Hoppe each had two hits, including a double for O’Hoppe.

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All told, the Angels had 12 hits and six walks.

The performance came after the Angels took batting practice on the field, which they weren’t going to do. Washington wanted to skip it for all three of the games in this series because he felt the players needed a mental break. But hitting coach Johnny Washington disagreed, so Ron Washington deferred to his judgment.

Yes, the Angels are going to have batting practice again Sunday.

“Just goes to show you,” Ron Washington said, “sometimes as the skipper you don’t know what you’re doing.”

​ Orange County Register 

Rottie Trinity is a healthy girl ready for a home

• July 6, 2024

Breed: Rottweiler

Age: 2 years

Sex: Spayed female

Size: 68 pounds

Trinity’s story: Trinity was malnourished upon arrival at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. But she was given multiple small feedings and slowly gained weight. Despite being abandoned, Trinity is a happy dog who craves attention and would make a great addition to almost any family.

Adoption cost: $180

Adoption procedure: Application and screening of potential adopters is required to ensure they are the right fit for Trinity. Visit her at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center, 28095 Hillcrest, Mission Viejo; call 949-470-3045; or email [email protected]. More information on Trinity and other dogs in need of homes can be found online.

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​ Orange County Register 

Just call kittens Izzy and Olli the ‘dynamic duo’

• July 6, 2024

Breed: Domestic shorthairs

Age: 12 weeks

Sex: Izzy, spayed female; Olli, neutered male

Izzy and Olli’s story: These “dynamic duo” kittens are bonded. Rescued a few weeks apart, they have become the best of friends and are looking for a home together. They are so happy with one another, whether cuddling or playing. They are affectionate and sleep with their foster family’s teenage daughter, who reports that they sleep through the night. They love to chase one another and play peek-a-boo in cardboard boxes. After playing, their favorite activity is a good cuddle. They have had full veterinary care, including vaccinations, worm and flea treatments, microchips, baths and nail trims.

Adoption cost: $250 for both

Adoption procedure: Contact Joanne with Long Beach Spay and Neuter Foundation at [email protected] to request a required application. Upon receiving the application, a volunteer will contact you to arrange to meet Izzy and Olli.

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​ Orange County Register 

Galaxy’s Mauricio Cuevas seizes upon opportunities

• July 6, 2024

The Galaxy’s Mauricio Cuevas created a special moment was able to share it with his family after a recent victory over San Jose.

Early in stoppage time, Cuevas scored his first MLS goal in a 3-0 win on June 30 at Stanford.

“It was a moment I can’t describe,” he said of the goal. “It was a surreal feeling, it’s a blessing and the most important thing for me was that both of my parents were there and it was my mom’s birthday. Couldn’t have scripted it better.”

Cuevas, 21, grew up in the Galaxy Academy system. The L.A. native joined Galaxy II in 2019 and a couple of years later headed to Europe to the youth system at Club Brugge in Belgium.

The Galaxy made a move last season, bringing him back home, singing him to a three-year contract through 2025, with two option years through 2027.

“This is my hometown club, my ultimate goal is to 100 percent be a starter, be a consistent player and helping the team in whatever way possible,” he said.

Cuevas has certainly played his way into a contributing role. The defender has seen more time as a winger.

“He’s dynamic, even when he plays fullback,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said of Cuevas. “With Johnny (Jonathan Perez) being down, we needed to manufacture a little bit there and he’s come on and proven that he actually really understands the role and has actually proven that he can help us out there.

“It (the winger position) isn’t going to be his primary role, but to be versatile, especially as a young player, can certainly help you to get more minutes and get on the field.”

Cuevas made his first-team debut last season, eventually making eight appearances. This season, he’s made 10 appearances as the Galaxy head into Sunday’s home meeting against Minnesota United FC.

Vanney recently said that he trusts Cuevas in any situation.

“Knowing that the coach has my back and the team has my back means a lot,” he said. “I want to take any responsibility I can to help the team.”

Cuevas joined the Galaxy Academy when he was 13 and left when he was 18.

“I think it was a great learning experience,” he said of moving to Europe. “I never doubt myself on the field. I grew so much out there and I was to bring that growth and experience back here.

“I wanted to come back, because who wouldn’t want to come back home? It’s a great opportunity for me, getting back home to my family. What else could I want? Especially having two immigrant parents who couldn’t fly out to visit me in Belgium. I was out there by myself. It was a lot.”

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Cuevas is part of a young group of players finding their roles in contributing to the Galaxy’s success.

“I think there’s a great balance between experienced and young guys,” he said. “We complement each other great. We (the youngsters) might be a lot to handle, but the experienced players are able to deal with us. We love those guys. It’s a special bond that we all have.”

MINNESOTA UNITED FC at GALAXY

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park

How to watch: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)

​ Orange County Register 

Swanson: If JJ Redick is Lakers’ only big move, is it enough?

• July 6, 2024

In a world where the Boston Celtics have just won an 18th championship, the Lakers are turning to an unlikely hero to save them.

In a world where great risks can bring extraordinary rewards, the Lakers are banking on an unknown.

In a world where pressure is mounting daily, the Lakers resist: Their one and only big splashy offseason move remains swapping Darvin Ham for JJ Redick.

You can almost hear Don LaFontaine narrating this movie’s trailer, it’s about to be that kind of season.

The Lakers took away the keys from a first-time head coach who in two seasons at the wheel was 90-74, dissatisfying despite the Western Conference finals appearance in 2023, and handed them to a broadcaster-podcaster whose only coaching experience was leading his kid’s team to two 55 Swish League championships in the third- and fourth-grade division.

A bold choice, their second choice. And an intriguing one, because it could prove a brilliant decision – or a disastrous one. And according to the championship-or-bust laws of Lakerdom, it’ll be one or the other.

But breathe, Lakers fans who’ve come to count on major roster overhauls every offseason – the coaching change was their big move. Plus, you’re turning purple; that’s probably not healthy, especially considering you could be holding your breath till Feb. 6, next season’s trade deadline, by which time you’ll have a better idea of what this team under Redick needs – or doesn’t.

Remember, the Lakers liked the lineup they brought into last season, and you probably did too. ESPN painted that unit as the fifth best in the league. Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura all got new contracts after contributing to a conference finals run. Anthony Davis’ take a year ago: “We obviously look good on paper.”

But obviously they didn’t like how it looked with the reins in Ham’s hands, how reluctant he was to give his best players time together, how reliant he became on Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish instead of the contingent that had been brought back in the hopes of building valuable continuity.

Eventually he went back to what worked the season before and the Lakers finished strong – 30-16 after the first week of January, better than all but Boston, Denver and Oklahoma City in that span – though by then Ham had lost the huddle and the Lakers were on their way to losing again to the Nuggets in the postseason, this time in round one.

And in an “apron world” that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and his counterparts now are navigating, he hasn’t found a trade partner to dance with this offseason to improve the roster in a significant way.

Smartly, he hasn’t sacrificed scarce assets for guys like Jerami Grant or Bruce Brown or Cam Johnson, sideways pickups whose purported price tags would wind up only setting the Lakers back.

Luckily perhaps, he failed to land Klay Thompson on a reported four-year $80 million potential albatross of a deal – or, for that matter, UConn coach Dan Hurley, who went on that bizarre interview-and-tell tour after turning the Lakers down.

Incredibly, they’re relying on the rookie Redick to redeem them. To satiate a what-have-you-done-for-me-this-hour fan base.

The Lakers are betting on the polished former player from Duke, the smartest guy in every room, to be that adaptable communicator who can employ modern tactics and keep clicking with LeBron James while relating to everyone else. Hoping he’ll hit the ground sprinting, helping and inspiring and cajoling and creating competitive joy without fracturing the fragile chemistry of a team featuring a King and his son.

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For what it’s worth, Redick thinks it’s doable, or so he said at his introductory news conference.

“I don’t look at the current roster as being that far off from a championship-caliber team,” said Redick, whose big ideas include ways to generate more 3-pointers and who wants to give players freedom to crash in order to improve the team’s 29th-ranked offensive rebounding percentage, and much more, surely.

Sounds good in theory, and when you imagine LaFontaine narrating it.

But we won’t know whether it works or not until the show opens in the real world, with the same cast but a new director and the same exceptional expectations.

“Sitting in this seat, I know what the expectations are… the expectation is a championship… that’s what I signed up for.”

– JJ Redick, new Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers pic.twitter.com/MzGp8p2Ehx

— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2024

​ Orange County Register