Seal Beach Mass Shooting Victims Remembered 10 Years Later

SEAL BEACH, CA —Remember the names of the Seal Beach mass shooting victims who died 10 years ago this week: Victoria Buzzo. David Caouette. Randy Fannin. Michelle Fast. Michelle Fournier. Lucia Kondas. Christy Wilson. Laura Webb Elody.

On Tuesday, survivors, family and friends of the victims who died that grim October day gathered at the pier Tuesday to commemorate a moment they have never forgotten.

Those in the small seaside community of Seal Beach will never forget where they were when the salon mass shooting occurred. Eight people were gunned down by convicted murderer Scott Evans Dekraai. He remains behind bars 10 years later, sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Locked in a bitter custody dispute over their son, Dekraai focused his rage on his ex-wife, Michelle Fournier. He did not rest until eight people were dead.

Bethany Webb, sister to shooting victim Laura Webb, told NBCLA the time since has slowed if not stopped, trapping them in a "time bubble."

She feels like it was only "yesterday" since she saw or hugged her sister. Now, her sister's image remains with her in a tattoo portrait.

For others, each day is a journey to prove they are still here and can make a difference.

"It just shows us what people can do in the face of such ugliness," survivor Hattie Stretz says. She was the only victim who survived the shooting.

Eight people were killed that day by Orange County mass murderer Scott Dekraai, on a rampage that has echoed across Orange County, in the prison and court system, for a decade.

Remember The Fallen...

• Randy Lee Fannin, 62, Murrieta: Born Dec. 11, 1948, Fannin founded Salon Meritage in 1990. He had many longtime clients, some going back 20 years. He was married to Sandy, also a hairdresser. "I've known Randy professionally since 1979," Mary Shawn Usborne wrote on Facebook. "I know no one who could cut hair like him." Another client described Fannin as laid-back, a sentiment echoed in a chalk message on the front door of the salon: "Randy, RIP friend, Aloha."

• Michelle Marie Fournier, 48, Los Alamitos: Described as cheerful, friendly and easy to be around, Fournier was the ex-wife of alleged killer Scott Dekraai. Born March 3, 1963, she is survived by three children, two of them adults. On Thursday afternoon at Fournier's rented condominium in Garden Grove, her sister declined to be interviewed.

• Christy Lynn Wilson, 47, Cerritos: Born June 5, 1964. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Wilson had testified on behalf of Fournier on Tuesday as part of Fournier's custody fight with the accused killer.

• Michele Daschbach Fast, 47, Seal Beach: Born May 21, 1964, she was a client of Salon Meritage. She was described as "blonde, cute and friendly" by Michael Vosburgh, a homeless man who hangs around the business park and used to rent a room from Fast's neighbors. Vosburgh said Fast is survived by her husband, Patrick, and three kids: two girls and a boy. He said Fast used to walk her dog every morning. "I just about fainted when I heard about Michele," he said. According to the Beach Futbol Club website, Fast was a team mom for the girls' U16 soccer club. "It is with great sadness that we write to let you know that one of the victims in the senseless Seal Beach tragedy was Michele Fast, wife of Patrick Fast who manages our Girls U16 White team, and mother of Lisa Fast a player on that team," the club's website states.

• Victoria Ann Buzzo, 54, Laguna Beach: Born July 21, 1957. Published reports describe Buzzo as having a "bubbly personality." The Orange County Register reports that she was married to her high school sweetheart for more than 30 years.

• Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65, Huntington Beach: Born Feb. 19, 1946. Kondas was a customer who was having her hair styled at the salon

• Laura Lee Webb Elody, 46, Huntington Beach: Born Oct. 1, 1965, she had just celebrated a birthday and was newly married. A stylist at the salon, Elody was also the daughter of Hattie Stretz, who was critically wounded in the shooting (see "One Survivor" below).

• David Caouette, 64, Seal Beach: Born July 14, 1947. He was a Massachusetts native who married his high school sweetheart and eventually moved to Seal Beach. He had three children. He perished in his Land Rover, parked outside of the salon after visiting the restaurant next door.

Survivors...
The remaining victim of the shooting is 73-year-old Hattie Stretz, mother of victim Laura Webb Elody. She's married to Tom Stretz, a former director of the Los Alamitos Youth Center.

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.

Paige Austin contributed to this report.

Read also:

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Sister Gets Custody of Child at the Center of Salon Shootings

Love Born Out Of Salon Mass Shooting Tragedy

Still No Closure in Seal Beach Salon Meritage Massacre, 5 Years Later

Dekraai Victims' Survivors Rally At OC District Attorney's Office