Vigil Marks Anniversary of Seal Beach Massacre

A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held Thursday night in honor of the eight victims of the worst mass slaying in Orange County history. Friday marks the one-year-anniversary of the shooting at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach.

Attendees are encouraged to wear white to symbolize peace, and organizers said they plan to pass out candles at the ceremony  which will be held at Eisenhower Park at Ocean Avenue and Main Street at 7 p.m.

The vigil was chosen to be held on the eve of the shooting at Salon Meritage in order to allow mourners to observe the anniversary of the massacre in any way they choose.

Scott Evans Dekraai, 42, awaits trial and has been charged with eight murders. He has pleaded not guilty.

Dekraai had been involved in a child custody dispute with his ex-wife, hairdresser Michelle Fournier, 48, who was killed in the shooting.

The other victims of the massacre were Randy Lee Fannin, 62; Victoria Ann Buzzo, 54; Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65; Laura Lee Elody, 46; Christy Lynn Wilson, 47; Michele Daschbach Fast, 47; and David Caouette, 64. Hattie Stretz, 74, was wounded in the rampage but survived.

Since the shooting, Wilson's widower has led a campaign for Christy's Law, which would prohibit any person engaged in a child custody dispute in California from buying a gun or accessing an already owned firearm.

Wilson has also called for reform of the legal process which allows civil lawsuits to run at the same time as criminal cases. He filed suit against Dekraai but the defendant cited his Fifth Amendment right to freeze the civil process since his criminal case is still pending.

Salon Meritage is scheduled to reopen later this year after undergoing major renovations.