A 45-year old former marine entered Azana Salon and Spa in Brookfield on Sunday October 21, 2012 where his wife was working as beautician, gunned down seven women, killing three of them including his wife, before killing his own.
Background
Authorities said that they have responded to calls at the Houghton household of complaints related to animal and household abuse.
Neighbors also said that they frequently heard the couple arguing. They also knew that the couple are in the process of divorcing.
According to court records, Radcliffe Houghton, a 45-year old former marine allegedly terrorized his wife for years.
Last year, he was charged with disorderly conduct after authorities responded a 911 call which accused him of pointing a gun against his wife. The authorities’ respond resulted to a stand-off but ended peacefully. Later, the charge was dropped because police officers failed to show in court.
On October 4, 2012, Zina asked the assistance of police officers in getting her things from their house. Then when she drove her car into work at Azana Salon and Spa, she saw Radcliffe waiting in a car. Then while Zina was inside the spa, Radcliffe slashed her car’s tires. Zina and her co-workers saw what he did.
Radcliffe was later arrested and sent to Waukesha County Jail on misdemeanor allegations of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct-domestic violence. He, however, bailed out paying $350.
On October 8, 2012, Zina got a four-year restraining order against her husband by telling the court that her husband had threatened to kill her if she ever left him. Zina revealed also in court that He threatened to throw acid on her face and burn her and her family with gas.
The restraining order ordered Radcliffe to surrender all his gun to the authorities.
A Day Before Up To The Day of Shooting
Two days after his estranged wife obtained a restraining order against him, Radcliffe Haughton bought a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun from a private owner on Saturday, October 20, 2012.
The next day, Sunday, October 21, 2012 at around 11AM, he went inside the Azana Salon and Spa with the gun he bought. He pointed the gun the receptionist and shouted, “Everybody Down!”
Zina who was preparing a cup of coffee for her client, walked to the reception area and asked the Radcliffe, “what do you want?… Anything we can give you? Anything you want?”
Radcliffe pulled Zina through her arm away from the reception area and shouted again, “everybody down!” He took Zina around the wall where other women were and then started shooting. He then took the stair to the second floor, started a fire, and then shot himself to death.
The next day, he used this gun in shooting 7 women who are all licensed beautician of the spa, killing three of them including his wife, before killing himself.
The fatalities are:
- Zina Houghton (Radcliffe’s estranged wife, beautician of the spa)
- Cary Robuck ( 35 of Racine, a beautician of the spa)
- Maelyn Lind (38 of Oconomowoc, a beautician of the spa)
References
- Wis. shooting brings call for new law on guns, Associate Press.
- Alleged spa shooter had history of threats against wife, Chicago Tribune
- Wisconsin police: After domestic violence arrest, suspect kills 3 — and himself, CNN
- Wife in Wisconsin spa shooting saved others’ lives, witness says, LA Times
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