Crime & Safety

Today Marks 2-Year Anniversary of Salon Meritage Shooting

Two years have passed since eight people lost their lives, and another was wounded, at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, in what is known as the deadliest mass-shooting in the history of Orange County.

Two years have passed since eight people were fatally gunned down at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach. Today family members and the community will spend the day remembering those who lost their lives.

An official public memorial was not created this year, instead the families and friends of the victims plan to privately remember their loved ones who died on Oct. 12, 2011, according to the Seal Beach Police Department.

"The city of Seal Beach has and will continue to be in constant communication with these families and respect their wishes of peace and reflection," Seal Beach police Sgt. Phil Gonshak said.

Gonshak added Seal Beach will continue to focus on three areas: respecting the families and communities wishes of privacy, the successful prosecution of Dekraai and raising money for the building of the Salon Meritage memorial.

The Salon Meritage massacre was the deadliest mass-shooting in Orange County history.

Scott Evans Dekraai, 43, has been charged with eight counts of murder, with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and one count of attempted murder. Dekraai is slated to stand trial on March 24.

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Prosecutors say Dekraai was involved in a child custody dispute with his ex-wife, hairdresser Michelle Fournier, 48, who was killed during the Salon Meritage shooting along with 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.

Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Anyone interested in donating to the memorial fund is asked to call Tim Kelsey, the city's parks and recreation manager, at 562-431-2527 extension 1341.

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