Aug 6, 2008 6:14 pm US/Eastern
Ileana Pettit: "This Man Destroyed Our Family"
Pettit wept as she talked about how her daughter watched her husband's slaying
PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) ―
A day after 52-year old Donald Pettit was gunned down in cold blood in the parking lot of a post office in Pembroke Pines, his wife is speaking out.
Wednesday morning Ileana Pettit thanked law enforcement officials for all their efforts and the public for all the tips that they had called in. She also implored anyone with information to call the police.
"Please help us," said Pettit. "We just need one call to find the killer. It won't bring my husband back, but it will be justice."
Flanked by her sister and brother, Carmen and Edwardo Berreto, and Pettit's sister, Jill King, Ileana Pettit said the couple had been married for 18 years and have two daughters. One of the couple's daughters was in the car with Pettit when he was killed.
"My daughter witnessed something she should have never seen," said Pettit, "her father dying."
Pettit, an agent with U.S. Custom and Border Protection, was with his daughter when he was shot by a man during some sort of fight Tuesday morning the parking lot of a post office off Pines Boulevard and Dykes Road. After the shooting the gunman sped off. Pettit was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital where he died several hours later.
"This man has destroyed our family," said Pettit. "My daughters are struggling with it, my children are crying a lot and they just don't understand."
Pettit said they had been planning a party for their oldest daughter who will turn 15 on Thursday.
Wednesday police released a sketch of Pettit's killer. He's described as a white man, possibly Hispanic, between 50 and 60 years old, about six feet tall, with a medium build, gray white bushy hair and "distinctive sagging cheeks."
"We need to find him before he kills other innocent people and destroys other families," said Pettit. "We are hurting bad, but I want to thank you for your help."
A reward of $275-thousand is being offered for information that leads to Pettit's killer.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS, Pembroke Pines police, 954-431-2200, or online:
www.browardcrimestoppers.org.
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