Custody row father kills eight in gun rampage at hair salon

Shock: Residents of Seal Beach in California look on as police examine the scene of the shootings
12 April 2012

A father locked in a bitter custody battle shot eight people dead at a beauty salon in California in an apparent revenge attack on his former wife.

Military veteran Scott Dekraai is alleged to have burst into the salon where his ex Michelle worked, and sprayed bullets indiscriminately.

The mother of his seven-year-old son Dominic - who the pair were fighting for through the courts - is among the dead.

According to neighbours, Dekraai lost custody of the child in a court case the day before the shooting. Witnesses said the 42-year-old kicked open the door of Salon Meritage, in the seaside resort of Seal Beach, and began shooting staff and customers.

He is then said to have continued his rampage in the street outside. One witness said he hit a man who was trying to flee the carnage in his car: "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."

Dekraai was arrested after a short car chase. He was reportedly wearing body armour and had an arsenal of weapons in his car. The shooting is the worst in the area's history. Seal Beach prides itself on its small-town atmosphere and is seen as a quiet retreat from Los Angeles. Actress Sandra Bullock is among the stars with a home there.

Until last night's shooting there had only been one murder in the district in the last five years.

Six people were initially confirmed dead and two others died later of their injuries. One person remains in a critical condition.

The salon was busy at the time, with every stylist's station in use. Bodies were scattered around the premises.

Lydia Sosa, who used to work at the salon, said the couple had gone through a bitter divorce. "They were never happy for a long, long time," she said. "He was bitter. He was very bitter."

Court documents show a judge had ruled all contact between the couple was to be via text or email, except for a 10-minute phone call once a week to discuss the child's education and wellbeing.

An earlier ruling had awarded custody to Dekraai, with Michelle required to comply with several conditions before seeing the child, including not consuming alcohol 24 hours before visiting.

Dekraai is said to have moved to the area after being honourably discharged from the military with a work-related leg injury. He allegedly remarried his rehab nurse, Mindy Miguel.

This morning investigators were gathering evidence inside the salon. Dekraai's home in nearby Huntington Beach had also been cordoned off as detectives searched the premises.

Police sergeant Steve Bowles said Dekraai had offered no resistance when arrested. "We do feel confident at this point that we do have the single and only suspect in custody," he added.

A service for the victims was held at SeaCoast Grace Church in Seal Beach today. Kari Salveson, one of the mourners, said she had known Michelle for more than 10 years and was aware of a bitter custody dispute.

"She could gab away. She made you smile and she made you laugh," Mrs Salveson said.

In Huntington Beach, people were shocked to learn that one of the friendliest men in the neighbourhood had been arrested for the shootings.

Dekraai's neighbors described him as an outgoing man who invited them over for pool parties at the house he'd lived in for about six years. They said he doted on his son, playing catch with the boy in his yard.

End

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