The gunman, believed to be the ex husband of one of the stylists, shot a total of nine hairdressers and customers at Salon Meritage, a beauty salon just blocks from the Pacific Ocean in the upscale seaside resort of Seal Beach.
Three people, including a 73-year-old woman, were initially rushed to hospital in critical condition, but two of them have since passed away. One of the victims is thought to be the salon owner.
Orange County authorities rushed to the scene and seized the white male suspect, believed to be 42-year-old Scott Dekraai, in a traffic stop a half-mile from the shooting.
The alleged shooter, who lives locally, was thought to have been wearing body armour during the attack.
When officers raided his car they found multiple weapons, police said.
He didn't offer any resistance when he was arrested.
Seal Beach Police Sergeant Steve Bowles said: 'We believe he is the only shooter. He was taken into custody without injury.'
Witnesses said the gunman was embroiled in a domestic dispute over custody with his ex-wife, Michelle, who worked as a stylist at the salon.
The pair are thought to have a seven year old son.
Dekraai is said to have moved to the area two years ago after being honourably discharged from the military because of a work-related leg injury.
Police in Seal Beach would not confirm any relationship between the man and any of his victims.
'There are victims throughout the entire salon,' Sergeant Bowles added.
'There are survivors from inside the salon. A crime of this magnitude is not something Seal Beach is familiar with.'
Among the victims is thought to be the owner of the salon.
Randy Fannin died in the shooting, according to his niece, Tami Scarcella, 39.
'Randy is dead,' she said while hugging a friend. 'Randy is dead for sure.'
Police confirmed that one of the victims is male.
A middle-aged woman called Cindy was having her hair done by Mr Fannin when the gunman opened fire.
'We thought it was maybe firecrackers,' she told the LA Times.
'But he just didn’t stop. Anybody he saw he was shooting.
'It went boom, boom, boom. I was afraid he was going to shoot everybody.'
The one remaining injured victim is being treated at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.
Some of those inside managed to escape without harm, police said.
Bowles said the bodies of the killed and the wounded were scattered throughout the salon.
One wounded man was found outside the building. It wasn't clear if he was trying to flee when he was shot.
'We're unsure at this point if he shot from the entrance and people, as they were shot, ran in seeking cover or seeking shelter, but we have fatalities throughout the salon,' he said.
'From my observation, it did look like people were seeking shelter at the time.'
He said the salon was busy, with every hair-dressing station in operation.
Salon employee Lorainne Bruielle, who wasn't working Wednesday, told the Long Beach Press-Telegram the gunman was the husband of another employee.
Bruielle said she talked to the husband of one of the employees involved, who said one employee locked herself in the salon's facial room and was unharmed while another man locked himself in a bathroom but was wounded.
The shooter was spotted fleeing from the scene when police arrived and gave himself up after a short car chase.
Lydia Sosa, who used to work at the salon, said the suspect had gone through a bitter divorce with one of the women who worked there.
'They were never happy for a long, long time,' she told the New York Times.
'She said he was bitter. He was very bitter.'
Workers in neighbouring businesses said they hid in the bathrooms after hearing shots.
One woman said she was working at a nail salon and hid with about six other people for 15 minutes until they heard the gunman was caught.
The three people who were not killed instantly were rushed to hospital in critical condition.
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