Local News

JUPITER (CBS4) ― What was supposed to be a family celebration of Thanksgiving was turned into tragedy Thursday night after one of the guests pulled out a gun and started shooting. When the last bullet was fired, 4 people were dead, including 2 from Miami, and two more injured, also from Miami.

One of those killed was a 6-year-old girl, the daughter of a television news photographer who hosted the Thanksgiving day celebration. "She's in heaven," said her father Jim Sitton. "That's the only reason I can stand here today because God has blessed us with a beautiful little girl and he just took her home."

Makayla liked to perform. She played the piano and was scheduled to be in a production of "The Nutcracker" Friday in Palm Beach Gardens.

Police are searching for the alleged gunman,who is from Southwest Miami-Dade. They are trying to find 35-year-old Paul Merhige, who lives in the 10300 block of SW Kendall Drive. Neighbors say the home belongs to Merhige's parents, and he lived with them.

Police said the shooting happened during Thanksgiving dinner at the Jupiter home, when for some reason Merhige left the home, armed himself with a handgun, and opened fire during Thanksgiving dinner, at about 10 p.m. "When he came back into the residence, without provocation, without warning, he did begin shooting at family members," said Jupiter Police Spokesperson Sally Collins-Ortiz.

17 people were at the home, which was mostly a gathering of relatives.

Investigators say he fired several times, striking five people, including the girl, who they say is his cousin. The victims dead at the home have been identified as Merhige's aunt, 76-year-old Raymonde Joseph of Jupiter, 33-year-old Carla Merhige of Miami, 33-year-old Lisa Merhige of Miami, and 6-year-old Makayla Sitton of Jupiter. The two adult women killed were Merhrige's twin sisters.

Clifford Gebara, a cousin, was grazed by a bullet and treated at the home.

Police said Makayla was in her bed when she was shot.

The fifth victim, identified as Patrick Knight of Miami, was rushed to St. Mary's hospital in Palm Beach, where he is reported in critical condition. McKnight is Merhige's brother-in-law.

It's unclear what caused the shooting.

"What led to this incident, we're not quite sure," said Jupiter Police Sgt. Scott Pascarella. "It did not appear there was any altercation prior to this shooting."

Pascarella said there was "ongoing resentment" in the family, but could not say how that may have have been related to the shooting.

Pascarella said a neighbor called 911 shortly after 10 p.m,, bringing Jupiter police to the home on Via Veracruz in Jupiter. Merhige fled before police arrived.

WPTV television photographer Jim Sitton was the host of the party. Even though his daughter was shot and killed in the incident, he and his wife were not among the victims.


"God packed a lot of sweetness into that little body," Sitton told local reporters. "She's just our life. I don't know how we are ever going to recover." The relationship between Sitton and Paul Merhige was unclear, police said.

Merhige is considered armed and dangerous, and police have started a wide scale manhunt in an effort to find him. He is believed to be driving a four-door, blue 2007 Toyota Camry with Florida license plate No. W42-7JT.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

"The word we're trying to get out to the public is that this individual is considered armed and dangerous," said Pascarella.

Neighbors in the Palm Beach County community were shocked."Our kids walk the streets by themselves," said 67-year-old Nicole Kemp, who did not know any of the victims. "I thought it was the safest place to live. I guess it doesn't matter, if there's a maniac here."

It's unclear where the adult victims lived. Carla Merhige was a real estate agent in Miami, said a co-worker.

"She was a wonderful agent," said Joanna Sherman, a manager at Coldwell Banker Residential real estate. "She was very active in the community and in charities. She was just a genuine, beautiful individual. She always had a smile for everybody."

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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