Quick Police Work Averted Further Tragedy After Shooting, City Says

Even as the loss and devastation of the shooting at Salon Meritage continues to sink in, another realization is hitting the Seal Beach community: It could have been worse.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, nine people were gunned down at Salon Meritage, killing eight and injuring another. Within minutes, police arrested suspected killer Scott Dekraai. His ex-wife was an employee at the salon, and police believe he sought revenge for their ongoing custody battle over their 8-year-old son at McGaugh Elementary. Police arrested DeKraai about a mile from the school just moments after the shooting.

In a prayer delivered before the Seal Beach City Council on Monday night, Police Chaplain Don Shoemaker voiced the fear and the relief of the many: “We thank you that if the killer had any intention of going to the school, he was not able to do so.”

The Seal Beach Police Department got the report of a shooting at Salon Meritage at 1:21 p.m., and within five and a half minutes, they arrested Dekraai, who was armed with three guns and a bulletproof vest as he drove down Central Avenue.

“We probably could not appreciate the level of community angst and anxiety that would have developed had this suspect remained at large,” said Interim Police Chief Robert Luman.

Luman noted police and fire officials who did an exemplary job, along with unexpected heroes such as the four construction workers who helped police with a description of the shooter and his direction of travel and by helping fire fighters to triage the shooting victims.

The task of controlling the crime scene and protecting the community was monumental, said Luman. Police had to find and arrest the shooter, make sure there were no additional suspects, help triage the shooting victims, identify and lockdown multiple crime scenes, preserve evidence and interview dozens of witnesses.

About 40 different agencies such as police, fire, public works, and church volunteers helped with the task.

The police investigation is continuing, and anyone with additional information about the case is asked to call Detective Gary Krogman at 562-799-4100 x 1108.

“I feel our police department response by anyone’s measure was prompt, efficient and courageous,” Luman said.

But the enormity of the crime created unexpected challenges. It was Orange County’s worst mass murder in history, and the crush of international media was immediate and enormous. Television stations were airing pictures of Scott DeKraai even before detectives could show photo lineups to witnesses, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons. Volunteers had to put up tarps to give survivors and victims’ family members privacy from circling news helicopters.

“I have been doing this for 21 years. I tried a lot of cases, and I have never seen a crime scene like this,” said Simmons.

In the days following the shooting, the police conducted press conferences and coordinated logistics for eight memorial and funeral services.

“They have been instrumental in beginning the healing process that is so profoundly important,” added Luman.

The support and sympathy from surrounding communities has also helped, said Seal Beach City Councilman Gordon Shanks. It makes Seal Beach bigger than its borders, added Shanks

“It’s a large community with a huge heart, but we have been wounded, but we will come back as we always have,” he said.

“The shooting tragedy of Oct 12 cast our police, fire and emergency dispatch personnel over 40 assisting agencies and city staff to respond to the most horrific tragedy in the history of our city and Orange County. I am extremely proud of the heroic work of our police, fire and emergency dispatch personnel, all city staff, the coordination among several jurisdictions assisting in this tragedy, the community and all courageous efforts during and after the shooting,” said City Manager Jill Ingram. “My personal commitment is that through a lot of challenging work ahead of us over the next several months, we will assure our residents and businesses that Seal Beach will continue to be an extremely safe community.”

City Councilwoman Ellery Deaton called on the city to create an official process for the community to suggest ideas for a permanent memorial site.

Additionally, the city will host a town hall at McGaugh Elementary at 7 p.m. Thursday to address community questions and concerns about the shooting. A free shuttle will begin taking passengers to the meeting from the 8^th Street beach parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Thursday due to the shortage of parking at McGaugh Elementary.