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Portions of the grand jury testimony against the man accused of fatally shooting eight people in a rampage at a Seal Beach hair salon in October 2011 was unsealed Thursday at the orders of an Orange County, Calif., judge.
Gordon Gallego told the jury Scott Dekraai, 42, of Huntington Beach, walked over to his ex-wife Michelle Fournier, who was doing her co-worker’s hair and said:
"'This is what you wanted,’ or ‘This is how you wanted it,’ and started shooting both girls,” Gallego said, according to the documents.
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Read Grand Jury Transcripts in Scott Dekraai Case
Fearing for his life, Gallego said he grabbed a phone and co-worker Lisa Powers and ran into the bathroom.
Outside he said he could hear “constant screaming and gunshots.” Then, Gallego said, the sound of a co-worker banging on a nearby door.
According to the documents, Assistant District Attorney Dan Wagner asks Gallego what he heard.
“You don’t have to do this, please don’t kill me,” Gallego said, repeating what he heard from his co-worker.
Gallego went on to say that he heard gunshots, then silence.
“I heard her take her last breath,” Gallego testified.
When Gallego emerged from the bathroom, over a pool of blood, he said he saw bodies of his coworkers and customers.
Dekraai is accused of orchestrating the worst mass killing in Orange County history. He has been sued by two of the victims’ families, including that of Christy Lynn Wilson.
In November 2011, Wilson’s husband, Paul, said somebody must be accountable for his family’s loss.
“My kids no longer have a mother,” he said at the time. “I no longer have a wife, best friend and soul mate. My life and my kids’ lives will never be the same.”
The family of Michelle Fournier, Dekraai’s ex-wife, filed a similar suit in late 2011.
Dekraai pleaded not guilty in January to eight felony counts of special circumstances murder for committing multiple murders and one felony count of attempted murder.
Also killed in the shooting were the salon's owner, Randy Lee Fannin, 62; Victoria Ann Buzzo, 54; Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65; Laura Lee Elody, 46; Michele Daschbach Fast, 47, and David Caouette, 64.
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If ever there was a poster child for the death penalty this guy is it!!
What a horrible article to have read on a Friday. So much for a feel good moment. This guy doesn't deserve the comforts of 3 meals, a bed, and clothing. Strap him in the middle of the woods on a chain like a dog and walk away.
Mr. Not Guilty needs a slow death now!
Just hope it doesn't take 30 years of rotting on Death Row.
Condolences to the families and friends of all involved. You read stories like this and it just baffles me how one person can turn such rage against his fellow innocent human being......Wow!!
Rather than putting him in prison or waiting for his execution. They should apply a little frontier justice. Take him back of the court house and hang em for all to see.
I agree this bastard should die a slow, horrible death. Now.
But that's emotion talking. And this is a highly emotional situation.
Looking at it another way, and from another point of view, this is why we have a trial by jury. As frustratingly slow and seemingly incompetent as our judicial system is, it's the best way.
"Frontier Justice" worked to some extent when circuit court judges actually rode the circuit.
Now it only serves to bridge the gap between pieces of garbage like this and common, decent, law-abiding society.
Of course, I wouldn't feel this way if one of my relatives or friends was a victim...but that's why we try to keep juries impartial.
California, at least for now, has reinstated the death penalty. There's plenty of evidence. Let's do this right.
I absolutely HATE how, when there is full proof someone does something like this, they admit to it or anything else killing any doubts about their involvement.... I HATE how they are still allowed to plead not guilty. This sonova bitch is as guilty as they come. They should get no other option than GUILTY!.
Not Guilty! By reason of what? Is this the "The B**** deserved to die" defense???? This guy has a lot of nerve. Of course you would need a lot of nerve & arrogance to think you are entitled to commit murder because you are losing your divorce battle. Pride is a dangerous thing but this guy has nothing to be proud of!
Paul Wilson's comments were extra heartbreaking. I hope he says something like that to this monster during sentencing as well - "Just because you couldn't get along with your wife doesn't mean I should have to lose mine!".
I hope he is never allowed to see his son again either. He might not even care about that because he knew what the consequences would be when he planned the mass murder. He was more worried about making sure his wife never saw their son again. Which only proves what a selfish and undeserving man he is, to put his own spite and hate before his child's needs. Any parent that acts in such a vindictive way against a spouse under the guise that they know what's best for their kid is full of themselves and deserves to lose custody! Remember this if you are ever involved in divorce proceedings.....
I TOTALLY agree.
too bad this guy can only be killed once
How do you sue a poster child??
Dekraai and Richard Alan Davies, death penalty immediately. There is no question of guilt! There should not be years of appeals!
This country has gone nuts with killing people! I thought we were civilized, not barbarians.
It is the sign of the times and it is only going to get worse with no end in sight. Sad but true.
Littlestream, I'm not saying that I disagree with your cry for the death penalty, but there is definitely some irony in your comment!
Horrifying. In cases like this, where there are multiple witnesses and no doubt as to the identity of the killer, appeals should be unavailable. That's the only way to deal with creatures like this. He should be put down like the mad dog he is.
In cases where there are multiple murders with no doubt as to the guilt, there should be automatic death penalty - knowing that - may cause the killers to commit suicide and save all these lengthy, expensive court trials and the rot about their sad childhoods and mental illnesses causing their actions. BS - and the appeals? Stupidity - and insults to the survivors of the victims. A serial killer or multiple murderer is an aberration of society and there's no excuse for them. Lots of people have varying mental disorders, but they do not do these horrendous acts. I have no pity for these persons.
What a loser. I do NOT want to see him executerd. I want him to live another 50 years in a 6 x 9 cell with a bunch of psychos who either want a girlfriend or can't wait to put a knife in his throat. I think someone should form a "prison visit team" that regularly visits morons like this. They would make monthly visits to a select list of convicted muderers, not to make them feel better, but to ask how their life in a 6 x 9 cell is going, and to remind what a nice day it is outside, and to tell them that the kids or grandkids are doing fine, growing up, getting married, how the group is going to a movie or out to eat tonight, and then ask them what they are doing this weekend and what they are having for dinner. If the inmate refuses to see them, mail letters with something on the outside of the envelope like "what a beautiful day outside, what are you doing today..." He may throw it away but at least he has to check his mail or he'll miss one from the loony girl who falls in love with a death row inmate, and he'll see the note, and then throw it away. Let him live and remind him every day of what a s^&^&^&^& life he has.
That is actually prohibited by our constitution, its cruel and unusual. The part about him rotting away in a 6 x 9 cell for the rest of his life i agree with you.
Yeah, I guess so. This is what makes us "better" than a lot of the rest of the world or a lot of the rest of history. We have rules of law, not of men. OK, I agree. But, I am glad you think he should sit there forever and enjoy the comfort of the nice prison system.
If you want to pay for it go right ahead, i would prefer to pay 10 cents to put a .22 in his malformed noggin.
that's the problem. Anyone sentenced to death has a right to an automatic appeal. These things last years an costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is NOT a two minute, good bye loser, see you later thing. Not only that, it gives someone like this loser hope. All he sees is HIMSELF taking on the law again, the rightoeus fighter. He never thinks about what he did. So, instead, just tell him, "No, you are not sentenced to death, but you will never get out of here..." I think that's a lot more depresseing...
While I understand the need for this POS to suffer. I disagree about him being kept by taxpayers for the rest of this life. He could be tortured by the families or for the families but either way this scum should be put to death just as he killed those poor people. Why pay 60k a year to house this scum and then millions in appeals? Hell, I will send the authorities a bullet for free.
LittleStream- the veneer of civilization is VERY thin. We are all capable of being barbarians. Acting civilized is just that..an act. Human beings for the most part, suck.
But our culture isn't perfect or better enough than others-let's tear at it some more shall we?
Yes..I believe that is the right answer. lets tear it down to ground and start fresh with new rules. What we have now isnt working. Our culture is selfish, corrupt and too divided to remain as a viable system.
I was being sarcastic.How absurd
I am not. i am deadly serious.
WOW ! Why the hell are people so shocked? This sh*t happens all the time in other parts of the world. Really the death penalty? Is it really a penalty or a release?The only reason you all feel the death penalty is worth anything is because you all feel he will be judged else where and burn in hell. LMAO you are making it too easy for people like him. Death is a way out. Once you are dead you never even knew you existed or even what you did in life. How about life in prison with out the possibility of parole, now that is a punishment. And people have been killing each other since the beginning of humanity. Please people don't be so primitive. You and us to be civilized? Outlaw the concepts of religion and race! Voila!
The death penalty is so that later on some well intentioned soul doesn't come along and tug on heart strings hard enough to let this vermin out. Worse yet, some parol board unwittingly releases him. Do not say that this has not happen, just read the news.
Call it revenge, call it a pre-emptive strike, but the fact remains that there will be no chance of a repeat offence.
Absurd to the extreme.The religion you rail against seems to be built into us as much as bullying,dominance,and race/tribe.Surely you mean the United States should give up Christianity in favor of????Godlessness?That doesn't seem to work so well,nor does it appear to be human nature. What also is human nature if allowed to flower is magnanamity,thusly we will allow you to posit silly ideas w/o any concern about retribution for your opinion.That is christian.That is the belief system that ultimately has allowed civilization to flourish and nurture ideas such as destroying racism,removing inequality amongst the sexes,freedom from fear for such minorities as homosexuals. While imperfect,it's the best we've ever seen in 10,000 years.
pained1- I think you have that backwards. Religion is and has been the main cause of Racism, slavery, inequality of EVERY kind, and fear of others that are "different" at every level of society. I wont even mention the billions of people murdered in the name of religion across the ages that continues today or the wars caused by religion. I think that mankind would have flourished much better and faster if we had been unhindered by the controlling, fearful and inept bonds of religion.
Umm you really need to do your "Christianity" research, responsible for more deaths than all of the Muslim conflicts in history. And the U.S.A government needs to not meddle in any religious affairs or even protect them. After all since when are laws created to protect imaginary things? Destroying racism? Really how can you destroy something that doesn't even exist? Race is a 14th century concept and nothing more that pseudoscience. Please take the time to question your existence and beliefs fervently, don't just take things and concepts at face value, understand the very underlying premisesfor these rationalizations that people make. Removing inequality for sexes? WTFhave you been reading? Really? I am in shock, religion does not promote sex equality. Don't you forget that GOD made woman from MAN FOR MAN. Right of the bat promoting ownership, please QUESTION AND THINK! :)
I was just going by history,where all these great cultures in china,india,middle east,greece, rome all flourished or still are.It took OUR religion,and dissatisfaction with it to plant the seeds of a culture that skimmed the best of all those mentioned and came up withthe here and now.So prior to present day,the only thing lacking in America was racial,sexual equality.That was all coming,our culture evolving towards that end.The reason EVERYTHING is off and for instance religion is a target now is for a simple reason.The greed of men.I'm ashamed to be part of the same group.I hate those white guys.Took a stable growing culture and chopped it off at the knees.We need religion now mor ethan ever.Don't buy it,take this tack.There are a lot of DUMB people out there.They don't have jobs,but do have freedom from want.They can eat,drink,smoke ,and screw to their hearts content.They if not you need the "opiate of the masses" to keep in line.The end of religion?Even if you pulled it off in the west[which you can't] the rest of the world wouldn't be having it.Ahteists complaining about religion is like a fish not liking water[clumsy].You'll have to manage
pained1 you are with the category you despise. And no, religion ( all religions) is/are a mere stepping stone that we (humanity) must remove our leg from to move forward. What happens when you try and go up a flight of stairs and try and keep your foot on the fist step? You cant move up anymore, this is EXACTLY what is happening now, it was a step that helped humanity and now is impeding progress because you all cannot realize it is now doing more harm than good.
Logic Rules All :)
This happens all the time in the gun-crazed USA.
Maybe if someone in the salon was Concealed Carry and had a gun themelves, they could have met this guy instead of cowering in a closet...
again, no doubt of guilt, people lost love ones immediately and they will grief forever. Why should this scum be given 3 meals a day, room and board paid for by all of us. A bullet is cheap, is justified and would rid the world of another piece of scum. I would be the first to say that the sentence of the death penalty is flawed and alot of innocent people have been executed but when there is no doubt, no time should be wasted with appeals or anything but a last supper with a bullet for desert. I hold the same view for pedofiles. They too destroy peoples lives and usually get off with a slap on the hand.
DDX.So lost you think you are leading
Oh really as opposed to you believing in an imaginary Deity? Oh yeah I lead my life in the steps of an imaginary individual named Jesus. Please I lead for no one my reasoning and logic lead me and I follow nothing more.
The problem with sentencing a person to death is that they stay on death roll for ever. When there is unequivocal no doubt what so ever that a person committed a murder. That person should be put to death within a year.
why wait a year?
when you divorce and take half(if not more)of your spouse's assests,retirement,and future income,then move in with a lover,this is what happens.
Only if you're insane.
That is no excuse. Divorce, disappointment, injustices happen many times on a daily basis all around the globe. It is no excuse to take the life of in this case the ex wife and the unfortunate innocent people who just happened to be in the salon at that time and were gunned down in cold blood who I am sure did not profit from his divorce. Those lives should not be "a pound of flesh" for this killer who may not have gotten everything he thought he was due in a divorce. I was told by my attorney when I was filing for divorce "don't expect justice because the laws are not fair", I also got the short end of the deal but didn't go on a shooting rampage.
spiceman, the only way to keep someone from gaining half of the assets accumulated during a union such as marriage, is to live alone. Otherwise, if someone is living with you and contributing to the pot (as I assume she was because she was "working" when he killed her), they are entitled to half of the pot.
You can't have it both ways. If the prospect of splitting assets bothers you, then you need to do everything on your own, without the help of a partner.
Why isn't anyone saying California needs stronger gun laws - that way this certainly would not have happened, right? That is the BS we hear about Arizona when someone gets shot.
Why ask the question when you already mentioned it?
This is exactly why you should always take a gun to the salon and never take your finger off the trigger.
weallhaveopinions, because he's looking a fight. He wants someone to start on the gun law issue, so he release his tirade on his right to bear arms, or "if we took away guns the only people with guns will be criminals"... you know, the usual.
Don't feed him because this isn't about that. It's about a loser who couldn't handle the fact that his wife left him for somebody else, so he felt he was justified in killing her and seven other innocent people. Makes no difference on the weapon, as he could have killed just as many (or more) by blowing up the place. This guy is a waste of flesh.
No kat, not looking for a fight. Just making a point. You say "makes no difference the weapon," but when someone in AZ shoots 4 people, MSNBCrs shout that it is because Az has "crazy gun laws," ignoring the point that, as you make, he could have used an (illegal) bomb. Just simple hypocracy.
I volunteer to double-tap this fukker when he's found guilty. I'll even pay the cost of the .45 rounds.
I sometimes wonder if I should ever leave my house. It seems people with problems want to kill everybody rather than just killing themselves.
People say 2012 will be the end of this world, I say it ended a long time ago and if it is the end, then good, we could all use a reset.
NUKE the bastard....
NUKE the bastard.
A Republican gun lover voicing his freedom rights.
I don't even like that party and want you to suffer for that statement
WHt, stop it.
While I have no use for people like this, these things aren't getting more common with time. When I was young, you might hear of this if it happened in your state. We live in an era where news spreads at breakneck speed. Plus our population growth, means that relative to our numbers, violence is actually going down. That being said, proceed with the prosecution, and if he's found guilty, the exocution.
They just need to have his hair and nails done and put him in prison for as long as he lasts.
Death penalty? Who needs it?
Him.He needs it-what are you reading?
pained, I think you missed flylowguy's point. Too bad, cause that was hilarious!
I get it,got it
Everyone should carry a gun, including pre schoolers. I need a gun on my side at work.
Funny how we hear about guns and freedom, yet most employers won't let you bring a gun to work.
Hey, if employers let us all bring guns to work, and don't give me the security guards will protect you crap, they can't. then we will be able to protect ourselves.
But the gun rights folks and their supporters won't let you carry guns at work...might shoot the boss after a bad evaluation I'm guessing.
Absolutely. Pre-schoolers have rights, too. I think we should replace belts with double holsters.
How can you possibly leave out grenades? If those punks down at the mall are laughing at you because of your comb over and they're already packin' you're going to need something to even out the odds in a hurry
He plead not guilty and wants his side of the story heard apparently. I'm sure his victims would have liked him to pause and consider not shooting them to death so they could have gone on with their lives. He has acted outside of the normal rules we as a society expect people to live within, why then does he expect to be treated fairly, justly and perhaps with mercy by our judicial system? Just plead guilty and get it over with. You did the crime now do the time, however, he will be afforded the full legal protection and process he is entitled to, too bad he didn't afford his victims the same as he shot them to death.
They actually made something other than another 'baby momma'?
What a jerk.
Fry this SOB ASAP!
I just wonder how long this trial will take place using taxpayers $$$ to keep him in jail, hire a few defense attorneys and then a long prison stay. This creep should be tried, then executed within a few months.