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Huntington Beach Concert Honors Mass Shooting Victims
Dave Stretch, left, and Ed Means were both shot while playing music Aug. 23 at Cook's Corner when a gunman walked in and opened fire. The pair were back on stage with their band M Street on Sept. 3, playing a benefit concert at Old World Huntington Beach for other victims of the shooting.
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Topline:
The band M Street took to the stage this weekend less than two weeks after two of its band members were wounded during the mass shooting at Cook's Corner in Orange County. That shooting left four people dead, including the shooter, and wounded six others.
How bad were the band members' wounds? Dave Stretch, who plays bass for M Street was shot below the hip. Ed Means was shot in the arm. Both bullets did only minor damage. "It is amazing," Means said, "it makes you kind of think, well, you know, that wasn't my time. And even reinforce the idea of, 'What can we do to kind of help people that were not so lucky?'"
How and why are they playing again so soon? Singer Debbie Johnson said getting back on stage and playing together is a way to heal. "The therapy for us is the concert." she said.
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Johnson's husband, Mark, who plays keyboard and vocals for the Orange County-based band, said: "We all just said, 'Man, we gotta hold hands and keep doing this, and let's not let the bad guys win.'"
The gunman was identified as John Snowling, 59, a retired Ventura County law enforcement officer. He was said to be targeting his estranged wife, Marie Snowling, who had filed for divorce in December. She was among those injured.
What else is happening for the victims? Cook's Corner reopened on Friday and had a day full of music planned for Labor Day. The bar has compiled a page with links to support the shooting victims and their families.
On Wednesday, Library of the Canyons is hosting a vigil for the Cook’s Corner victims.
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