Seal Beach Shooting: Suspect Arrested; Ex-Wife Was One of 8 Killed

Scott Evans Dekraai was arrested Thursday morning and will be charged in the shooting that killed eight people at a hair salon in Seal Beach, Calif., on Wednesday.

Dekraai, 42, was arrested about a half-mile from the site of the shooting. They had him by the shirt, and when they pulled the shirt up, they realized he had a bulletproof vest, Tom Windham, a resident who witnessed the arrest, told ABC News. They took that off, and by that time they already had him handcuffed.

Police say Dekraai walked into Salon Meritage around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, wearing a bulletproof vest, and began shooting, killing six people on the spot. Two other victims died en route to the hospital, and a ninth remained hospitalized in critical condition on Wednesday.

Dekraai's ex-wife, Michelle Fournier, was a hairstylist at the salon and is believed to have been one of the victims, although the police haven't released any names.

He shot his wife, Cindy, a woman who was getting her hair done by the owner of the salon, Randy Fannin, told the local KNX radio station. Then he pointed the gun at Randy. Then Randy turned around, and then the man shot Randy, and then I ran.

Relatives of Fournier and Fannin confirmed that the two were among the victims.

Dekraai and Fournier had been engaged in a bitter custody battle over their 8-year-old son, neighbors said. Cindy said Fournier had taken out a restraining order against Dekraai.

There may be something to the motive as to a relationship with somebody in the salon. That is our assumption, Seal Beach Police Sgt. Steve Bowles told The Associated Press. He declined to elaborate.

The shooting shocked the residents of Seal Beach, a town about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, which is known for being very safe.

We don't experience these things, Bowles said.