David Caouette, 64

Died Oct. 12, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.

Dave Caouette, a 64-year-old white man, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, after being shot in the 500 block of North Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

[Editor's note: Although Caouette was shot in Orange County, he died at a hospital in Long Beach. For that reason, his death was included on the Los Angeles County coroner's homicide list.]

In the early afternoon, Scott Dekraai, a 41-year-old white man, allegedly walked into Salon Meritage armed with a bulletproof vest and three guns and began shooting, authorities said.

There were about 20 people in the salon. Many of those inside were "just trying to stay out of the way," Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas later said.

Shortly after the shooting, Seal Beach police arrested Dekraai near the salon.

Six people were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. Three victims, including Caouette, Michelle Fast, 47, and Hattie Stretz, 73, were taken to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in critical condition.

Caouette and Fast, both of Seal Beach, died in the hospital later that day. After five days of treatment, Stretz was released. She was at the salon to see her daughter, hair stylist Laura Lee Elody, 46, who was among the dead.

Officials said Dekraai used at least two handguns in the shooting and did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Rackauckas called the circumstances of the massacre "terrible and incomprehensible."

In a rampage that lasted two minutes, Dekraai's ex-wife, Michelle Fournier, was among the first two shot, said acting Seal Beach Police Chief Tim Olson. Dekraai and Fournier were locked in a vicious custody battle over their 8-year-old son.

Rackauckas said that Dekraai believed that some of the salon employees were "enablers" in the custody battle.

Also killed in the attack were: Victoria Ann Buzzo of Laguna Beach, Randy Lee Fannin of Murrieta, Lucia Bernice Kondas of Huntington Beach and Christy Lynn Wilson of Cerritos.

Dekraai, of Huntington Beach, was charged with eight counts of murder with special circumstances, and one count of attempted murder. Officials said they would seek the death penalty.

— Los Angeles Times