2011 Seal Beach shooting

2011 Seal Beach shooting SealBeachSalon.jpg The Salon Meritage, with floral tributes following the shooting. Salon Meritage, with floral tributes, following the shooting 500 Pacific Coast Hwy,Seal Beach, California, U.S. October 12, 2011 1:21pm 33.74555 -118.10630 type:event_scale:100_region:US-CA PDT; UTC−07:00 Mass murder, mass shooting 8 1 Scott Evans Dekraai First-degree murder under special circumstances (8 counts) Attempted first-degree murder * 9mm Springfield semi-automatic pistol .45 caliber Heckler & Koch semi-automatic pistol .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolverProsecutors seek death penalty in salon shooting case Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2011.On October 12, 2011, a mass shooting occurred at the Salon Meritage hair salon in Seal Beach, California, United States. Eight people inside the salon and one person in the parking lot were shot, and only one victim survived. It remains the deadliest mass killing in Orange County history.Emery Sean Mass and spree shootings and attacks in Orange County over the years https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/15/mass-and-spree-shootings-and-attacks-in-orange-county-over-the-years/ The Orange County Register 22 June 2023 15 May 20222017-09-23 'The face of evil': Worst mass shooter in Orange County history sentenced to life in prison https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-scott-dekraai-sentencing-20170922-story.html 2025-02-23 Los Angeles Times en-US Mass shooting in California, U.S. June 2025 February 2013 33.74555 -118.10630 type:event_scale:100_region:US-CA title Scott Evans Dekraai, who was involved in a custody dispute with his ex-wife (one of the shooting victims), pleaded guilty to the shooting on May 2, 2014. On September 22, 2017, Dekraai was sentenced to eight terms of life imprisonment without parole and one term of seven years to life for attempted murder.https://www.scpr.org/news/2017/09/22/75859/california-man-faces-life-sentence-for-killing-8-i Audio: Seal Beach mass murderer sentenced to life in prison for salon killings September 22, 2017 Scpr.org 2017-10-16 Shooting On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at 1:21 pm PDT (20:21 UTC), police responded to reports of shots fired at the Salon Meritage hair salon at 500 Pacific Coast Highway.911 tape of Seal Beach shooting released http://www.ocregister.com/news/call-322096-minutes-began.html October 15, 2011 Orange County Register October 14, 2011911 audio recordings capture the chaos inside Seal Beach salon Los Angeles Times, October 18, 2011. The shooter was armed with three handguns, and reloaded at least once during the attack, which lasted two minutes.DA to seek death penalty for alleged Seal Beach shooter https://web.archive.org/web/20111016165127/http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_19113441 October 16, 2011 Press-Telegram, October 14, 2011.Seal Beach shooting: 'This coward will be brought to justice', Los Angeles Times, October 14, 2011. There were about twenty people in the salon at the time, some managing to escape by running into the street or hiding in neighboring businesses.Seal Beach survivor thought shooting was prank https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seal-beach-survivor-thought-shooting-was-prank/ October 15, 2011 CBS News October 13, 2011 Six people were declared dead at the scene, and three survivors were taken to a hospital where two of them later died of their wounds.8 Killed in Salon Shooting in Southern California https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/us/8-killed-in-shooting-at-hair-salon-in-seal-beach-california.html October 13, 2011 The New York Times October 12, 2011 Police later named the weapons used in the shooting as a 9mm Springfield, a .45-caliber Heckler & Koch, and a .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29. The shooter's former wife, Michelle Fournier, one of the employees at the salon, was one of the victims.Police ID victims in Seal Beach shooting http://www.ocregister.com/news/salon-321796-beach-police.html October 13, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011 The suspect in the shooting, named by police as 41-year-oldPolice initially gave Dekraai's age as 42; his date of birth is October 17, 1969. Scott Evans Dekraai of Huntington Beach, California, was arrested without incident after being stopped while driving a white pickup truck about one half-mile (0.8 km) from the scene of the crime.Gunman kills 8 at Seal Beach salon, Los Angeles Times, October 12, 2011.California shooting: Eight killed at Seal Beach salon, BBC News, October 13, 2011. Dekraai was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest.Seal Beach Massacre: Police Identify Suspect https://abcnews.go.com/US/seal-beach-massacre-police-identify-shooter/story?id=14726230 October 13, 2011 ABC News The incident was the worst mass murder in Orange County, surpassing the Fullerton massacre in July 1976, in which seven people died.Seal Beach remembers victims after salon attack https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seal-beach-remembers-victims-after-salon-attack/ October 13, 2011 CBS News October 13, 2011 There had been only one murder in Seal Beach during the previous four years.8 Dead in OC's Deadliest Mass Killing http://www.ocregister.com/news/business-321651-medical-beach.html October 12, 2011 Orange County Register October 12, 2011 A candlelight vigil was held in the evening of the next day for the victims of the shooting.Seal Beach shooting: More than 1,000 attend emotional vigil Los Angeles Times, October 13, 2011. A fund set up to aid victims of the shooting raised around $400,000.Seal Beach Victims' Fund Raised $400,000 http://losalamitos.patch.com/articles/seal-beach-victims-fund-raised-400-000 January 4, 2012 Los Alamitos – SealBeachPatch January 3, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20170302193934/http://losalamitos.patch.com/articles/seal-beach-victims-fund-raised-400-000 March 2, 2017 A remodeled Salon Meritage reopened under the same name on November 18, 2012.Kopetman Roxana A year after Seal Beach shootings, Salon Meritage reopens http://www.ocregister.com/news/salon-378132-fannin-meritage.html November 19, 2012 Orange County Register November 18, 2012 Victims Dekraai killed six women and two men. One other woman was also shot but survived. The victims were: Victoria Buzzo, 54, who worked at the salon.She danced through life http://www.ocregister.com/news/buzzo-321948-mandri-beach.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011 David Caouette, 64, was killed while sitting in his Land Rover Discovery parked outside the salon. Caouette was the final victim, and was shot through the front windshield and passenger window of his vehicle. He had been visiting the restaurant next to the salon.Friends recall parking-lot victim in Seal Beach shooting http://www.ocregister.com/news/testa-321825-caouette-rover.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011Friends, Land Rovers gather for shooting victim http://www.ocregister.com/news/land-322395-rover-caouette.html October 18, 2011 Orange County Register October 17, 2011 Randy Lee Fannin, 62, the owner of Salon Meritage; according to eyewitnesses, he was the first person to be shot. He reportedly said to Dekraai: "Please don't do this. There's another way. Let's go outside and talk."Friends of salon victim left 'empty' by kind man's death http://www.ocregister.com/news/randy-321883-sandy-hair.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011Seal Beach shooting: Scott Dekraai charged with murder BBC News, October 14, 2011. Michele Daschbach Fast, 47, a customer who was having her hair styled at the salon.Victim remembered as loving, fun soccer mom http://www.ocregister.com/news/fast-321876-beach-michele.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011Michele Daschbach Fast: Daughter of Atherton, beloved family member and lifelong sports fan, inmenlo.com (October 14, 2011) Michelle Marie Fournier, 48, who worked as a hair stylist at the salon and was the shooter's ex-wife.A custody dispute may have led to ex-wife's death http://www.ocregister.com/news/fournier-321952-dekraai-court.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011 Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65, a customer who was having her hair styled at the salon.Salon patron recalled as 'warm, brilliant' http://www.ocregister.com/news/kondas-322084-salon-county.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 14, 2011 Laura Webb,Laura Webb was named as Laura Lee Elody on the police list of victims, but had recently married and was known as Laura Webb at the time of the shooting. 46, worked at the salon and was doing her mother's hair at the time of the incident; her mother, Hattie Stretz, 73, was shot and critically injured.She was shot while doing her mother's hair http://www.ocregister.com/news/eskenazi-321925-webb-took.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011 Christy Lynn Wilson, 47, who worked at the salon. Wilson testified in a court custody hearing on behalf of Fournier the day before the shooting spree.She was part of the beauty family http://www.ocregister.com/news/criswell-321955-salon-wilson.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 13, 2011 Hattie Stretz, 73, was critically injured when a singular bullet went through her arm and her upper chest, but she survived the shooting, and was released from the hospital on October 17.Sole survivor of Seal Beach salon shooting opens up for 1st time https://abc7.com/salon-shooting-seal-beach-orange-county-meritage-scott-dekraai/1552729/ 2025-01-18 ABC7 Los Angeles en She was a customer having her hair done by her daughter, Laura Webb, one of the stylists who died in the shooting.Seal Beach shooting: Lone survivor released from hospital http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/hattie-stretz-released.html November 6, 2011 Los Angeles Times October 17, 2011 Sandy Fannin, co-owner of the salon and wife of Randy Fannin, was on the premises at the time of the shooting but survived unharmed by hiding at the back of the property.Seal Beach salon owner to gunman: 'Please don't do this' http://www.ocregister.com/news/scarcella-322398-sandy-fannin.html October 18, 2011 Orange County Register October 17, 2011Neighbors Of Salon Owner Stunned By Deadly Shooting CBSLosAngeles, October 13, 2011. Perpetrator thumb|upright|Booking photo of Scott Evans Dekraai, taken soon after his arrest. Scott Evans Dekraai (born October 17, 1969) divorced his wife Michelle in 2007 after four years of marriage. Court records showed that he had been engaged in a bitter custody dispute over his eight-year-old son. His personality was said to have changed after an accident on board a tugboat in February 2007, which left him with serious leg injuries. Following an incident later in 2007 involving his stepfather, a restraining order was filed against him, barring him from possessing firearms. The order lasted a year and had expired at the time of the shooting. Court documents filed in September 2008 diagnosed him with PTSD. A court hearing had taken place on October 11, 2011, the day before the shooting, which recommended a near-equal custody arrangement.Seal Beach shooting: Suspect suffered PTSD from boat injury. Los Angeles Times, October 13, 2011.https://archive.today/20130127162030/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1014-seal-beach-gunman-20111014,0,701356,full.story Seal Beach shooting suspect was a haunted man. Los Angeles Times, October 13, 2011.Poor decisions shadowed salon shooting suspect, Associated Press, October 15, 2011. Prosecution Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced on October 14, 2011, that Dekraai would be charged with eight counts of murder with special circumstances, and one of attempted murder. He also indicated that his office would seek the death penalty.Seal Beach shootings: Death penalty sought http://www.ocregister.com/news/salon-321997-killing-beach.html October 14, 2011 Orange County Register October 14, 2011 In a news conference following the shooting, Rackauckas said: "For almost two minutes, Dekraai shot victim after victim, executing eight people by shooting them in the head and chest. He was not done. He then walked out of the salon and shot a ninth victim, a man, who was sitting nearby in a parked Range Rover." In an affidavit submitted to police, Dekraai said that he first shot his ex-wife multiple times on entering the salon, contradicting the view of eyewitnesses inside the salon who said that salon owner Randy Fannin was the first victim. Dekraai said that on the morning of the shooting, he had argued with his ex-wife over the telephone, causing him to consider killing her. He also said that David Caouette – an apparently random victim sitting in his parked car outside the salon – had been shot because he thought that he was "an off-duty or undercover police officer".Seal Beach suspect says he saw bruises on son http://www.ocregister.com/news/dekraai-325000-beach-shot.html November 2, 2011 Orange County Register November 2, 2011 Dekraai's arraignment took place on November 29, 2011, at which he entered a plea of not guilty.Accused Seal Beach salon shooter Scott Dekraai pleads not guilty. Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2011. The start date for the trial, originally scheduled for March 25, 2013, was postponed until November 2013 to allow defense attorneys to review recordings obtained by a prison informant.Welborn Larry March 25 trial date set in Seal Beach salon shooting Orange County Register October 20, 2012 Local 1Welborn Larry Seal Beach shootings trial delayed http://www.ocregister.com/news/dekraai-496960-trial-salon.html Orange County Register February 23, 2013 Local 1, 3 The trial was postponed again until March 24, 2014.Jolly Vik Seal Beach trial delay adds to grief Orange County Register August 31, 2013 Local 1Esquivel Paloma http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0831-seal-beach-shooting-20130831,0,3894202.story Relatives of Seal Beach shooting victims want trial to start soon Los Angeles Times August 30, 2013 Dekraai pleaded guilty to the shooting on May 2.Flores Adolfo Man pleads guilty in Seal Beach salon killings, may face death penalty http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-seal-beach-killings-guilty-20140502,0,6345586.story#axzz30a5alGTL 2 May 2014 Los Angeles Times May 2, 2014 The punishment phase of his trial was scheduled for August 18.http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0503-seal-beach-killer-20140503-story.html Seal Beach mass shooting suspect Scott Dekraai now a convicted killer Los Angeles Times May 2, 2014 In March 2015, the Orange County District Attorney's Office was removed from the case following a ruling by Judge Thomas Goethals that the office had violated Dekraai's rights by improperly withholding evidence from the defense. Goethals assigned California Attorney General Kamala Harris to take over the prosecution. Harris's office announced its intention to appeal the decision, leading to a delay in the sentencing."O.C. salon murder case stalls as D.A. office's removal is appealed", Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2015.'This ship has sunk:' Families fed up with further delays in Scott Dekraai case Tony Saavedra http://www.ocregister.com/articles/dekraai-654948-attorney-case.html March 24, 2015 Orange County Register March 21, 2015 In August 2017, Goethals ruled that Dekraai was ineligible to receive the death penalty due to the purported prosecutorial misconduct in the case.Ferner Matt Judge drops death penalty option in mass murder case tainted by misconduct http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scott-dekraai-death-penalty_us_5995d163e4b0a2608a6a83ad The Huffington Post August 18, 2017 November 15, 2017 Dekraai was sentenced to eight terms of life imprisonment without parole and one term of seven years to life for attempted murder. Memorial A memorial commemorating the victims of the shooting was built in Eisenhower Park in Seal Beach in 2015.https://www.ocregister.com/2015/06/29/work-begins-on-seal-beach-salon-shooting-memorial/ Alison Glander Work begins on Seal Beach salon shooting memorial June 29, 2015 Orange County Register May 13, 2018 en-UShttps://www.ocregister.com/2015/10/14/families-of-those-killed-at-seal-beach-salon-still-struggling-for-justice/ Tom Berg Families of those killed at Seal Beach salon still struggling for justice October 14, 2015 Orange County Register May 13, 2018 en-US See also List of homicides in California References 2 External links Image gallery of the scene of the shooting BBC News, October 13, 2011. https://archive.today/20130128053352/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-seal-beach-shooting-20111014,0,4089801,full.story Slayings pierce Seal Beach's sense of safety el Los Angeles Times, October 14, 2011. To the chaos in Seal Beach, firefighters bring focus, skill and heart Los Angeles Times, October 20, 2011. Seal Beach salon shooting site remains closed 3 months later Daily Breeze, January 8, 2012. https://archive.today/20130131205055/http://losalamitos.patch.com/articles/city-to-design-memorial-for-shooting-victims-overlooking-the-ocean City to Design Memorial for Shooting Victims Overlooking the Ocean el LosAlamitos-SealBeachPatch, February 28, 2012. Tearing Down, Then Rebuilding at Seal Beach Massacre Site NBC News, March 23, 2012. 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