A gunman opened fire Wednesday in a busy Southern California hair salon, killing eight people and critically wounding another.
The attacker sprayed Salon Meritage with gunfire Wednesday afternoon as victims fell to the floor and those who could escape ran onto the street or hid in neighboring businesses in the bustling area of trendy restaurants and shops along Pacific Coast Highway, authorities and witnesses said. The gunman continued firing outside, where he shot one man who apparently tried to flee in a Range Rover.
The gunman, whose name was not released, got into a white truck and drove away from Salon Meritage, police said. He was stopped by officers about a half-mile away and surrendered without incident, Bowles said.
"We feel very confident we have the single and only suspect in custody," Bowles told NBC LA.
"We feel very confident we have the single and only suspect in custody," Bowles told NBC LA.
"He just didn't stop. Anybody he saw he was shooting," said an Anaheim woman who was in a stylist's chair when the gunman began firing. "It went boom, boom, boom. I was afraid he was going to shoot everybody."
Former salon staffer Lidia Sosa told reporters the gunman targeted his ex-wife, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported. Witnesses told police a custody dispute may have been behind the shootings.
Police on Wednesday night had not released the alleged gunman's name or the identities of the victims, nor had they established a motive. But friends and witnesses who knew the salon employees said the alleged gunman was Scott Dekraai and he appeared to be targeting his former wife, who was a stylist at Salon Meritage. They said the couple had been involved in a bitter custody dispute involving their son.
"A crime of this magnitude is not something Seal Beach is familiar with," Seal Beach Police Sgt. Steve Bowles said. "This could be one of our greatest tragedies."
Six people were pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were taken to the trauma center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where two later died, police said. All the victims were adults.
One of those slain was salon owner Randy Fannin, according to niece Tami Scarcella.
Dekraai, 41, allegedly stormed into the salon about 1:30 p.m. and appeared to be looking for his former wife, Michelle Fournier, according to friends and witnesses. Dekraai is a resident of Huntington Beach. It was unclear whether Fournier was among those killed.
Six people were pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were taken to the trauma center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where two later died, police said. All the victims were adults.
One of those slain was salon owner Randy Fannin, according to niece Tami Scarcella.
Dekraai, 41, allegedly stormed into the salon about 1:30 p.m. and appeared to be looking for his former wife, Michelle Fournier, according to friends and witnesses. Dekraai is a resident of Huntington Beach. It was unclear whether Fournier was among those killed.
Outside the salon, which was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape, witnesses described a chaotic scene in which multiple rounds were fired inside the business and in the parking lot. Kimberly Criswell, who owns a neighboring salon, said at least two shots were fired in front of her business as the attacker shot at the man in the Range Rover.
"My receptionist looked outside and yelled, 'He just shot that man!'" Criswell said.
The gunshots, said Riley Riggs, 27, were followed by several minutes of "eerie silence."
"I could still smell gunpowder in the air," said Riggs, a San Luis Obispo resident who was staying at the Pacific Inn, across the street from the center.
"My receptionist looked outside and yelled, 'He just shot that man!'" Criswell said.
The gunshots, said Riley Riggs, 27, were followed by several minutes of "eerie silence."
"I could still smell gunpowder in the air," said Riggs, a San Luis Obispo resident who was staying at the Pacific Inn, across the street from the center.
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