Scott Dekraai

Case record: Scott Dekraai

Background

Scott Dekraai was arrested after the Seal Beach shooting at the Salon Meritage hair salon in Seal Beach, California, on October 12, 2011. Police later named him as 41-year-old Scott Evans Dekraai of Huntington Beach, California, and arrested him without incident after he was stopped while driving a white pickup truck about one half mile (0.8km) from the scene of the crime. Dekraai was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest.

Court records showed that Dekraai had been engaged in a bitter custody dispute over his eight-year-old son. Dekraai divorced his wife, Michelle Fournier, in 2007 after four years of marriage. A court hearing took place on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, the day before the shooting, which recommended a near-equal custody arrangement.

After an accident on board a tugboat in February 2007 left him with serious leg injuries, his personality was said to have changed. 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 expired at the time of the shooting. Court documents filed in September 2008 diagnosed him with posttraumatic stress disorder.

In the events preceding the shooting, Dekraai and Fournier had been in a custody battle over their 8-year-old son. Dekraai argued with his ex-wife over the telephone on the morning of the shooting, causing him to consider killing her.

The offence

On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at 1:21 p.m. PDT (20:21 UTC), police responded to reports of shots fired at the Salon Meritage hair salon at 500 Pacific Coast Highway.

Police reported that the alleged shooter was armed with three handguns and reloaded at least once during the attack, which lasted two minutes. About twenty people were in the salon at the time, and some managed to escape by running into the street or hiding in neighboring businesses.

Police later named the weapons used in the shooting as a 9mm Springfield XD, a .45-caliber Heckler & Koch HK45, and a Smith & Wesson .44 magnum.

Dekraai was accused of getting into a verbal argument on the phone with his ex-wife, 48-year-old Michelle Marie Fournier, over a custody dispute regarding their 8-year-old son. At approximately 1:20 p.m. on October 12, 2011, Dekraai entered Salon Meritage, located on the 500 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach, where his ex-wife worked as a hair stylist. He was accused of wearing a bullet-proof vest under his clothing and arming himself with three firearms before walking into the salon with the intention of murdering his ex-wife and other people who may have been present.

At 1:21 p.m., Dekraai was accused of walking through the salon and executing employees and customers at random, as well as Fournier, by shooting them at close range in the head and chest. The firearms included a 9 MM Springfield, Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum, and a Heckler & Koch .45. Dekraai was accused of shooting several of the victims multiple times using two of the firearms as they lay dying, stopping to reload when his ammunition ran out. The shooting lasted approximately two minutes.

The other people inside the salon attempted to escape by hiding, locking themselves in private treatment rooms, or running outside. Dekraai was accused of shooting eight people inside the salon. Six of the eight victims inside the salon were pronounced dead at the scene. The two other victims were transported to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in critical condition; one of those victims died that afternoon at the hospital. The eighth victim remains in critical condition.

After the shooting rampage inside the salon, Dekraai was accused of walking out of the salon. As he approached his white Toyota Tundra pick-up truck to flee the scene, police reported that he observed a dark sport utility vehicle parked nearby with a male seated in the driver's seat. Dekraai was accused of approaching the victim, who was alone in his car, and executing him by shooting him in the head through the closed front passenger side window. This victim was David Caouette, 64, Seal Beach.

Police described the event as a mass shooting that left eight people inside the salon and one person in the parking lot shot, with only one victim surviving. It was described as the deadliest mass killing in Orange County history. The incident was also described as the worst shooting spree in Orange County since the Fullerton massacre in July 1976, in which seven people died. There had been only one murder in Seal Beach during the previous four years.

An affidavit submitted to police included statements attributed to Dekraai. Dekraai said that he first shot his ex-wife multiple times on entering the salon, contradicting the view of eyewitnesses 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. Dekraai also said that David Caouette had been shot because Dekraai thought that he was “an off-duty or undercover police officer”.

Investigation

The Seal Beach Police Department investigated the case.

The SBPD officer who responded to a 911 call from a person in the restaurant next door to the salon was reported as being the first to arrive at the scene. Witnesses pointed the officer to Dekraai’s vehicle as Dekraai attempted to drive away.

SBPD dispatch received information from the 911 caller at 1:25:36 p.m. that the defendant was driving away from the scene. At 1:26:07 p.m., only 30 seconds later, Dekraai was stopped by SBPD in an emergency traffic stop. Officers from SBPD yelled for Dekraai to exit his vehicle with their guns drawn.

At the time of his arrest, Dekraai was accused of being in possession of the three firearms and a significant amount of ammunition in his truck. Dekraai was booked at the Seal Beach City Jail and was later transported to the Orange County Jail. The investigation was described as ongoing.

Investigators encouraged anyone with additional information to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin at (714) 347-8492 or SBPD Detective Gary Krogman at (562) 799-4100 ext.1108.

The OCDA and SBPD were reported as thanking law enforcement agencies for their response and assistance, including Anaheim Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, California Highway Patrol, Cypress Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Huntington Beach Fire Department, Huntington Beach Police Department, La Palma Police Department, Long Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department, OCDA Bureau of Investigation, Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and Westminster Police Department.

Arrest

Dekraai was arrested without incident after being stopped while driving a white pickup truck about one half mile (0.8km) from the scene. He was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest.

Officers yelled for Dekraai to exit his vehicle with guns drawn. Dekraai was accused of getting out of his car, getting down on his knees, and placing his hands behind his head before being arrested.

A long-time friend said the person arrested bore little resemblance to the fit and fun-loving outdoorsman he once knew.

Trial

Dekraai’s arraignment took place on November 29, 2011, and he entered a plea of not guilty.

Prosecutors indicted Dekraai and pursued a grand jury indictment. Prosecutors indicated a provisional start date for the trial had been given as October 15, 2012.

Sentencing

No sentencing outcome was provided.

Appeals

No appeals outcome was provided.

Outcome

Dekraai remained in custody and was described as being in prison awaiting trial.

Aftermath

A candlelight vigil was held in the evening of the next day for the victims of the shooting.

A fund set up to aid victims of the shooting raised around $400,000.

Sandy Fannin, the widow of the owner, stated that a remodeled version of the salon would open with the same name and in the same location during summer 2012.

Victims

The shooting left six women and two men dead, with a lone woman survivor: Victoria Buzzo, 54, who worked at the salon.

David Caouette, 64, died after being shot in his Land Rover Discovery parked outside the salon. Caouette was reported as 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.

Randy Lee Fannin, 62, the owner of Salon Meritage, was reported as the owner who was the first person to be shot, with eyewitnesses reporting: “Please don't do this. There's another way. Let's go outside and talk.”

Michelle Daschbach Fast, 47, a customer who was having her hair styled at the salon, was killed.

Michelle Marie Fournier, 48, who worked as a hair stylist at the salon and was the ex-wife of shooting suspect Scott Dekraai, was killed.

Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65, was a customer having her hair styled at the salon.

Laura Webb, 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 and survived the shooting, and was released from the hospital on October 17. Christy Lynn Wilson, 47, who worked at the salon, was also killed.

Sandy Fannin, co-owner of the salon and widow of the slain Randy Fannin, was on the premises at the time of the shooting but survived unharmed by hiding at the back of the property.

Another statement attributed to the prosecution included that 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 male, who was sitting nearby in a parked Range Rover.”

Charges and court proceedings

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced that Dekraai would be charged with eight counts of murder with special circumstances, and one of attempted murder. Rackauckas indicated that his office would seek the death penalty.

Dekraai pleaded not guilty on November 29, 2011.

Prosecutors seeking the death penalty were described as seeking to get the case to trial within a year.

At the earlier arraignment in November, the charges were first filed and Dekraai pleaded not guilty; prosecutors later opted for a grand jury indictment to speed the process. Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said: “What we want to do here is get this case to trial as soon as we can.”

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas was quoted saying:

“There are some crimes that are so depraved, so callous, so malignant, that there is only one punishment that will fit the crime. When a person, in a case such as this, goes on a rampage and kills innocent people in an indiscriminate bloody massacre, I will seek the death penalty,” and: “The circumstances of this case are so terrible and incomprehensible that the aggravating factors overwhelm any possible mitigation.”

Seal Beach Acting Chief of Police Tim Olson was quoted saying:

“The murders that occurred on October 12 are by far the most horrific tragedy in our city's history. This incident will forever impact the lives of so many of us, who live, work and visit our great community,” and: “I am proud of the swift and effective action of the men and women of the Seal Beach Police Department as well as the assistance we received from so many of our law enforcement partners, for which we are grateful.”

Other details

Dekraai was described as being kept behind a barrier during the arraignment and not looking at the crowd.

At the arraignment, family and friends attended. A sheriff’s deputy warned them to have no outbursts. Family and friends were described as crowding the courtroom but remaining quiet during the hearing.

Fournier’s brother Craig Burk attended wearing a T-shirt with a blue heart bearing the words, “Support in Love Seal Beach.” Burk said: “The only way we can get through this is to be here,”

Paul Wilson wore four buttons with photographs of his wife, Christy Wilson, who was killed in the shooting. On one, she was pictured smiling and holding her 2-year-old granddaughter, Madisyn.

A friend and community accounts described Dekraai as having worked on fishing charters, then Catalina Express boats, then tugboats, and studying to get his tugboat captain’s license when a cable accident in 2007 left him unable to work.

Don Ashley, described as owner of Pierpoint Landing Sportfishing, was quoted saying: “He was always a big, healthy, outdoorsy person,” and:

“Since he had this terrible accident, he hasn't been able to do anything outdoorsy.” Ashley also said: “was very, very ugly, both mentally and physically.”

Dekraai’s attorney, Brian Magana, was described as saying Dekraai had been seeking payment for lost wages, future medical expenses and pain and suffering.

A neighbor Mark Rivera was quoted: “My heart really goes out to his son,” and:

“He's a really cute little boy. I'm just thinking, I don't know what's going to happen to him from this point forward. 'He lived for his son': Gunman 'shot dead eight in beauty salon massacre to get back at hairdresser wife over custody battle' Ex-military Scott Dekraai in custody after allegedly going on shooting spree Happened at hair salon in Orange County, California, where ex-wife worked Thought to have lost custody court case over son the day before shooting Ex-wife Michelle previously alleged he was unstable and physically abusive Eight dead, including wife Michelle, in worst mass murder in O.C. history Dead owner Randy Fannin 'confronted him before being told to "shut up"' 73-year-old woman among those seriously injured in quiet area of California Only one other murder in last five years where actress Sandra Bullock lives Witnesses describe smell of gunpowder and 'eerie silence' after shooting By Paul Bentley, David Gardner and Mark Duell DailyMail.co.uk October 13, 2011 A crazed gunman who shot dead eight people in an upmarket beauty salon in California allegedly went on the rampage after losing a custody battle over his son. Scott Dekraai the ex-husband of one of the stylists, allegedly shot nine hairdressers and customers at Salon Meritage, just blocks from the Pacific Ocean in the upscale seaside resort of Seal Beach. His ex-wife, Michelle, is also reportedly among those killed. Dekraai, 42, who used to serve in the military, is said to have threatened violence after losing a court case against her over their child. The battle with Michelle Fournier Dekraai was over the custody of their seven-year-old son, Dominic. She claimed in court filings that he was unstable and physically abusive to her in their marriage. Three people, including a 73-year-old retired nurse called Hattie Stretz, were initially rushed to hospital in critical condition. Ms Stretz's condition is improving, reported the Los Angeles Times, but the other two have since passed away. Ms Stretz's daughter Laura Webb was reportedly among those killed. One of the other victims is thought to be the salon owner, Randy Fannin. In all, one man and five women died at the salon; one man and one woman died after being transported to a nearby hospital; and one woman - Ms Stretz - was seriously injured. Local youth soccer team Beach Futbol Club identified a fourth victim - after Ms Fournier Dekraai, Ms Webb and Mr Fannin - as Michelle Fast, who is a mother of a player. The identities of the other four victims are not yet known. The Orange County Register identified the fifth, sixth and seventh victims on Thursday night as Victoria Buzzo, Dave Caouette and Kristy Wilson The eighth victim is still not yet identified. Orange County authorities rushed to the scene and seized Dekraai in a traffic stop a half-mile from the shooting on Wednesday. The alleged shooter, who lives locally, was thought to have been wearing body armour during the attack. When officers raided his car they found multiple weapons, police said. He didn't offer any resistance when arrested and police would not confirm any relationship between the man and any of his victims. Seal Beach Police Sergeant Steve Bowles said: 'We believe he is the only shooter. He was taken into custody without injury.' As the town struggled to come to terms with the shocking killing spree, witnesses said the gunman was embroiled in a domestic dispute over custody with his ex-wife who worked as a stylist at the salon. Jake Rennison, 17, told the Orange County Register that Scott had once asked him to teach his son to skateboard. He added: 'He was totally devoted to his son. Totally. 'I can't believe this happened. The only thing I can imagine is with the custody battle. His son was his life.' Dekraai is said to have moved to the area two years ago after being honourably discharged from the military because of a work-related leg injury. 'There are victims throughout the entire salon,' Sergeant Bowles added. 'There are survivors from inside the salon. A crime of this magnitude is not something Seal Beach is familiar with.' The shooting is reportedly the deadliest mass killing in Orange County history. Among the victims is thought to be the owner of the salon. Randy Fannin died in the shooting, according to his niece, Tami Scarcella, 39. 'Randy is dead,' she said while hugging a friend. 'Randy is dead for sure.' Kimberly Criswell, who owns a salon just two doors away, said she and her customers and employees heard gunshots, and her receptionist saw a man through a window as he was shot in a parking lot. 'There was like a pop, pop and my receptionist screamed, "he just shot that man" and we all ran into the bathroom and locked the door,' Criswell said. A middle-aged woman called Cindy was having her hair done by Mr Fannin when the gunman opened fire. 'We thought it was maybe firecrackers,' she told the Los Angeles Times. 'But he just didn’t stop. Anybody he saw he was shooting. It went boom, boom, boom. I was afraid he was going to shoot everybody.' Mr Fannin allegedly confronted the gunman before being told to 'shut up' as he continued firing. 'I could still smell gunpowder in the air,' witness Riley Riggs, 27, told the Los Angeles Times, adding that the gunshots were followed by an 'eerie silence' for several minutes. Zach Benson said patrons at the restaurant where he works ran outside when the shooting began. It just caught everyone off guard,' he told NBC Los Angeles. 'It was a very bizarre scene.' Shortly after he was arrested, police arrived at a house on Melody Lane in nearby Huntington Beach and escorted two women to a white car and then roped off the house with crime scene tape. Neighbours identified photos of the alleged shooter as their neighbour Scott. The house is registered to Scott Dekraai, and one of the licensed cosmetologists at the salon was Michelle Dekraai. Kari Salveson of Los Alamitos, who attended a service for the victims at SeaCoast Grace Church in Seal Beach, said she had known Michelle Dekraai for several years. She said she was aware that she and her ex-husband were involved in a bitter custody dispute over their son. Ms Salveson added Michelle Dekraai made her every visit to the salon special. 'She could gab away. She was one of those girlfriends you could never get enough of. She made you smile and she made you laugh,' Salveson said. Several people who knew Michelle Dekaai also said she sometimes went by her maiden name of Huff and it was unclear which one she was currently using. The one remaining injured victim is being treated at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Some of those inside managed to escape without harm, police said. Sergeant Bowles said the bodies of the killed and the wounded were scattered throughout the salon. One wounded man was found outside the building. It wasn't clear if he was trying to flee when he was shot. 'We're unsure at this point if he shot from the entrance and people, as they were shot, ran in seeking cover or seeking shelter, but we have fatalities throughout the salon,' he said. 'From my observation, it did look like people were seeking shelter at the time.' He said the salon was busy, with every hair-dressing station in operation. Salon employee Lorainne Bruielle, who wasn't working on Wednesday, told the Long Beach Press-Telegram the gunman was the husband of another employee. Ms Bruielle said she talked to the husband of one of the employees involved, who said one employee locked herself in the salon's facial room and was unharmed while another man locked himself in a bathroom but was wounded. The shooter was spotted fleeing from the scene when police arrived and gave himself up after a short car chase. Lydia Sosa, who used to work at the salon, said the suspect had gone through a bitter divorce with one of the women who worked there. 'They were never happy for a long, long time,' she told the New York Times. 'She said he was bitter. He was very bitter.' A local man named Bill Horton added: '(It was a) custody battle for seven-year-old son. Ex-Husband lost court case yesterday. Apparently he had been making threats of violence.' One of her neighbour's told KTLA she took out a restraining order against her former husband on Tuesday. Another neighbour, Jo Cornhall, added: 'I know there was a custody battle involved with his son, Dominic, who I believe is 7 or 8 years old.' Dekraai, who worked on tugboats after being discharged by the military, is said to have walked with a limp after a boat accident. He allegedly remarried Mindy Miguel, his rehab nurse. She is currently assisting detectives with their investigations, according to neighbours. Workers in neighbouring businesses said they hid in the bathrooms after hearing shots. One woman said she was working at a nail salon and hid with about six other people for 15 minutes until they heard the gunman was caught. The three people who were not killed instantly were rushed to hospital in critical condition. Patients at the hospital said the victims were rushed inside in a horrific state. 'They were bringing them in, and they were all bloodied up,' Biagio Zaby, 67, told the Times. 'One got shot in the face. One got shot in the chest. They took one in for a CAT scan. They said "Code Blue," which is not a good deal.' The shooting happened at about 1.30pm today. Those hit included hair salon employees and customers. Police had the murder scene roped off last night. The quiet beachfront city of approximately 25,000 residents identifies itself as the Gateway to Southern California's Orange County and is located about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Among its famous residents are 'Miss Congeniality' film star Sandra Bullock. It is home to Leisure World, a gated senior citizen community of 9,000 people, as well as the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station military complex. The city had just one homicide last year and none during the previous three years, according to statistics compiled by the Police Department. Regulars at the salon reacted in horror when they heard about the shooting. Kalie Ann wrote on Twitter: 'I go to Salon Meritage all the time and I was just there last Thursday. I can't believe something so horrible happened there.' home last updates contact

A neighbor described Dekraai as friendly and doting father, seen outside playing ball with his son or walking his dog. Several people described Dekraai as blaming his ex-wife for the divorce and claiming it stemmed from his tugboat accident. Don Ashley described the injury as “very, very ugly, both mentally and physically.”