Beauty Salon Becomes A War Zone

Eyewitnesses said alleged gunman Scott Dekraai was targeting his ex-wife and that the two were involved in a custody dispute.

(CLEVELAND) - Seal Beach, California is in turmoil today after a deadly shooting left up to eight people dead and a ninth person in critical condition. The LA Times tells a tragic story of a man who lived with his son in a modest neighborhood that the owner of a beauty salon, Randy Fannin, frequently passed while walking his dog. Salon Meritage in the 500 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

The alleged gunman is in custody, his name is Scott Dekraai and he reportedly moved to his current place of residence about two years ago. It appears that the 42-year old may have lived in Huntington Beach in the past. The Times reports that the man had a child and that he told a neighbor he was an honorably discharged military veteran. The neighbor said that he walked with a limp from a work-related injury.

Witnesses say Dekraai opened fire inside of the crowded salon Wednesday, leaving bodies scattered all over the inside of the building. Police confirmed that the suspect worked alone, though they say they are still investigating and trying to figure out what triggered the deadly violence.

KTLA-TV reports that multiple weapons were found in the vehicle and that Dekraai was wearing body armor at the time of his arrest.

The Seal Beach Police have stated that today's shooting is probably the deadliest in Orange County's recent history. Seal Beach can go five years without a murder, and that is sad as the town will inevitably always be associated with this tragedy.

According to The LA Times, eyewitnesses said the man was targeting his ex-wife and that the couple was involved in a custody dispute.

Eyewitnesses said that Scott Dekraai was targeting his ex-wife and that the two were involved in a custody dispute. He was taken into custody a few blocks from the crime scene, police said.

Beauty Salon Becomes A War Zone

Okay, you’ve worked hard and you have saved,
It’s a warm, clear & beautiful very sunny day,
Casual dress, including sandals, the exact dollar,
Seal Beach, outside LA, favorite beauty parlor.

As Salon Meritage is packed like this all the time,
Now, how does it turn into the scene of the crime?
Death of six victims, critically injured three more,
Suspect in custody soon after walking out the door.

Less than half a mile away he’s arrested while Tri-C,
Cool, Calm, Collected, but right after a killing spree?
The local television crews captured his peaceful look,
Hold on, only moments earlier several lives he took.

Executions were calculated with the trigger squeezed,
Police confiscated a vehicle, multiple weapons seized,
KCAL-9 showed police surrounding a four door truck,
Sounds like something hunters use when hunting buck.

As every chair was occupied at the time of this attack,
With the number shot it’s clear he wasn’t coming back,
Bullet entry wounds appeared to be all over the place,
Cannot imagine the horror, stunned looks on their face.

Daily Seal Beach Patch got a statement from an employee,
Saying the gunman just lost a battle, x-wife, child custody,
A quiet close knit community, in three years one homicide,
Bitter, hateful, jealous rage in seconds shattered the pride.

Because time passes by there is always an update,
The six original confirmed dead escalates to eight,
Is the last one remaining going to advance to # nine?
Who returns from a beauty shop & things aren’t fine?

By Luke Easter

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com