Salon Shooting Victim Leaves Hospital

Harriet "Hattie" Stretz, the lone shooting victim to survive last week's rampage at Salon Meritage, was released from the hospital Monday afternoon.

A symbol of hope amid tragedy, her gradual recovery has rallied the community. But much like the community, Stretz, 73, will no doubt have emotional scars that linger long after the physical wounds have healed.

Her daughter, Laura Lee Elody, 46, a stylist at the salon, was among those killed during the attack. Elody, a newlywed, was doing her mother’s hair when and opened fire, . Stretz was shot twice in the upper body.

Family members waited until she was recovering from surgery to tell her about her daughter, but she already knew. 

“This is good news. Everyone is praying for her,” said Dean Grose, a friend of the Stretz family. “It’s great that she is recovered to the extent that she can be released from the hospital. She still has a ways to go with regards to the emotional scars.”

The Stretzes are well-known in Los Alamitos for their involvement with the Youth Center and organizations such as the Rotary Club. The couple volunteered at the Youth Center, and Tom served as executive director until retiring two years ago. On the morning of the shootings, Hattie had volunteered at the center to assist with a haunted house for local kids.

Through the Seal Beach Police Department, the Stretzes issued a request for privacy as they continue to recover and mourn the loss of their daughter.