Nine shot, six dead after ex-husband opens fire in Salon Meritage

An abusive ex-husband walked into a crowded hair salon in a sleepy seaside town near Los Angeles and shot nine people as screaming customers desperately tried to flee.

Six people, including the gunman's former wife, were killed, witnesses said.

The bloodbath took place at Salon Meritage on the Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach at about 1:30 p.m. Califoia time, police said.

An eyewitness who was getting her hair done by a stylist named Randy told KNX radio that the shooter was married to a woman named Michelle who worked at the salon and who had taken out a restraining order against him.

"He shot his wife, then he pointed the gun at Randy," the eyewitness said. "Then Randy tued around and then the man shot Randy and then I ran."

The eyewitness, who hid in a bathroom next door, said the bullets kept coming.

"I just saw one gun, but it didn't stop," she said. "The gun just kept going."

Seal Beach Police Sgt. Steve Bowles said he helped arrest the suspect as he drove away from the horrific scene.

"He exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without any force being used. He appeared cooperative and did not resist our officers at all," Bowles said.

He would not reveal the suspect's name, and described him only as a white male.

"We feel very confident that we do have the single and only suspect in custody," Bowles said.

KTLA-TV reported the gunman had multiple weapons with him and may have been wearing body armor.

In custody: Scott Evans Dekraai, 42, of Huntington Beach, is pictured in this booking photograph released on Thursday by the Seal Beach police department. He faces multiple counts of murder

Wife: Scott Dekraai's ex-wife, Michelle, is reportedly among those killed. Her husband is said to have threatened violence after losing a court case against her over their child

 

Mouing: Six people have died and three others were rushed to hospital following the attack

Disbelief: Women in the upmarket area have been totally devastated by the tragic spree

 

Distress: Onlookers react near the site where six people were killed and three were wounded in a shooting at a hair salon in Seal Beach

The three people wounded were reported to be in critical condition.

Bowles said the salon was packed when the gunman walked in.

"It seems that almost every hair station was occupied," he said.

The gunman left corpses littered all over.

"We have fatalities throughout the salon," he said. "We don't know who were the patrons and who were the employees."

Bowles said it looked like many were cut down as they tried to escape.

"From my observation it did look like people were seeking shelter," Bowles said.

The death toll was more bodies than Seal Beach has ever seen. The town goes years at a time without a single homicide.

"A crime of this magnitude is not something that Seal Beach is familiar with," Bowles said.

The entire Seal Beach Police Department responded to the scene and relatives of the victims converged on the salon in hysterics.