Man Kills 8 People at Salon in Seal Beach

This awful story is still unfolding. Yesterday afternoon a gunman entered Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, Calif., and opened fire on employees and customers. Eight are dead. One is still in critical care at a nearby hospital. The alleged gunman was apparently involved in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, who worked at the salon. It’s the deadliest shooting in Orange County history. And the small, close-knit town of Seal Beach had only seen one other homicide in the last five years, authorities told reporters for The Los Angeles Times.

Police responding to 911 calls arrested the suspect less than half a mile away from the scene of the shooting. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were taken to a nearby hospital, where two later died, police said.

The community of Seal Beach, the neighboring businesses, and the local salon community are said to be devastated. “This is a shock to the whole community,” Dion Martini, a manicurist at a nearby salon on Main Street told The Los Angeles Times. “All of us around here have worked together at one time or another. I just can’t imagine anybody being that sick to go in and do that to anybody.”

What a senseless tragedy. Our thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones. Read managing editor Sree Roy’s comments about salon safety and recognizing domestic abuse here.

— Hannah