Ode to Seal Beach Honors Memory of Shooting Victims

Local artists, who wrote a heartfelt song for Seal Beach and the victims of the salon shooting last year, released a their ode to community in a video this week.

The song “Eight Birds” was written and performed by former Seal Beach resident and Los Alamitos High School graduate Christian Petite-Johnson in honor of the victims of the Salon Meritage shooting in the hours after the tragedy. Rossmoor resident and Los Alamitos High School grad David Durant also sang on the track.

Johnson, who grew up near the salon, performed the song at the memorial for manicurist Christy Lynn Wilson last year. He told mourners the tragedy inspired him to pour his heart into the song, which he recorded in his closet the day after the slayings. Filmed in Rossmoor and Seal Beach, the video features familiar landmarks.

It was one year ago today that the shooting took the lives of Michelle Fournier, 48, Randy Lee Fannin, 62; Victoria Ann Buzzo, 54; Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65; Laura Webb Elody, 46; Christy Lynn Wilson, 47; and Michele Daschbach Fast, 47, and David Caouette, 64. Hattie Stretz, 74, was wounded but survived.

At the request of their families, the victim's remembrance was held Thursday, one day shy of the year anniversary. Nine white balloons were released into the night sky at the candle light vigil in honor of each victim.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS

How have you coped in the year since the tragedy? Have you found your own way to honor the memories of the people we lost that day?