Salon-shooting survivor to speak during domestic-violence event

Marcia Santiago is recuperating from wounds she suffered after her ex-boyfriend fired bullets inside her Casselberry beauty salon that pierced her skull and killed her best friend, her employee and her customer.

She came out of a coma last week, and her progress is being closely monitored by the network of Dominican hairstylists and clients who form part of Santiago’s support community.

Like her recovery, healing for the families and friends of Eugenia “Mari” Marte, Noelia Gonzalez-Brito and Gladys Cabrera will be slow — but an event planned for Saturday is a first step toward mending the lives affected by a single act of domestic violence.

KathyBautista said shewillnever forget what she felt when she watched Bradford Baumet storm into Las Dominicanas M&M on State Road 436 on Oct. 18 and shoot her mother, Cabrera, to death.

Baumet, 36, terrorized Santiago, his one-time girlfriend, and salon co-owner Martewithhis violent outbursts until both women filed domestic injunctions against him.

He killed Marte, salon employee Gonzalez-Brito and salon client Cabrera just hours before a scheduled court appearance on Oct. 18. Baumet shot himself shortly after the killing.

Bautista, who was not injured in the shooting rampage, will share her story during the community outreach event — “QueHago?” or “WhatdoI do?” — to raise awareness about domestic violence.

“Noonerealizeshowdomestic violence can affect you indirectly,” said Bautista’s brother Irving Jimenez. “My mother was a victim whodidn’t know her killer.”

Local attorney Michael Gibson, domestic-violence organizations and local businesses are sponsoring the event, which will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Sedano’s at Curry Ford Road and Semoran Boulevard.