Death Penalty Sought in Salon Mass Murders

The death penalty will be sought against Scott Dekraai, the alleged gunman in Wednesday's Seal Beach shooting rampage, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced in tears this morning.

Dekraai--who allegedly carried three guns and who stopped to reload before spraying Salon Meritage with bullets-- faces eight felony counts of murder with special circumstances, and one charge of attempted murder.

Rackauckas said he normally convenes a panel to determine whether to seek the death penalty, but a committee was not necessary in this case. "There are some cases so callous and so malicious that there is only one punishment that has any chance of fitting the crime."

There were 20 people inside the salon in Old Towne when the shooter entered. Some survived by playing dead and hiding in the back room, authorities said.

Dekraai allegedy shot nine. One of the victims survived.

Authorities said Friday that Dekraai was motivated by revenge when he armed himself with firearms and body armor. Among the dead was his ex-wife Michelle Fournier, with whom he had a son.

The boy "has to grow up knowing his dad is a mass murderer. What kind of twisted fatherly love might that be?" tear-streaked Rackauckas said.

Fournier and Dekraai were locked in a custody battle. Within the past two months, Dekraai reportedly violated custody orders, Seal Beach Police Chief Tim Olsen said.

"This coward left children without parents and parents without children ... and this coward has left many of us without dear friends. I am both saddened and angry," Olsen said.