Gunman Massacres 4 Family Members After Dinner

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The youngest victim (age 6) can probably rest much easier knowing that she wasn't killed by a gun.

Four people died in a Thanksgiving Day shooting rampage when a Florida man finished his dinner, left, returned with a handgun and turned it on relatives.

All the victims were relatives of the suspect, 35-year-old Paul Michael Merhige of Miami, who is still at large, according to Jupiter police.

"We know the suspect had an ongoing resentment toward family members and at some point in the evening left the residence for a short period of time, then returned and started shooting without warning," Police Sgt. Scott Pascarella told ABCNews.com.

Pascarella said there were 17 guests at the holiday dinner massacre at the home of the youngest victim. He did not know if anyone had been targeted by the suspect.

"The suspect was an invited guest into the home, spending Thanksgiving with members of his family, and he started shooting," Pascarella said.

A neighbor called 911 after family members sought her out for help, according to ABC affiliate WPBF.

Police said the victims -- Makayla Sitton, 6, a second or third cousin; Raymonde Joseph, 76, an aunt; and Carla and Lisa Knight, 33, his twin sisters -- were relatives of the suspect. A fifth victim, Patrick Knight, 37, and the husband of Lisa Knight, was treated and released at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach after he was grazed by a bullet, police said. The suspect also injured a cousin, Clifford Gebara, 52.

The dinner was at the Jupiter home of the dead girl's father, James Sitton.

The youngest victim was asleep in her room when she was shot and died after she was taken in a helicopter to St. Mary's Medical Center, according to ABC affiliate WPBF.

The girl's father, Jim Sitton, worked as a journalist for Florida's WPTV station, according to its Web site.

"I just want to let everyone know that she's in heaven; we know where she is, and that's the only reason I can stand here today," he told WPTV. "God has blessed us with a beautiful little girl and he just took her home."

U.S. Marshalls are assisting local police in the manhunt.

The suspect was last seen leaving the home at about 10 p.m. Thursday night in a blue, four-door 2007 Toyota Camry, bearing Florida license plate W427JT. He is considered armed and dangerous.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Guns don't kill. People do.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Guns don't kill. People with guns do.

fixed

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Guns don't kill. People with guns do.

fixed

If he was hells bent on exterminating his family, he would have found another way to do it. A gun is a tool. It is the idiot holding it that kills.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Guns don't kill. People do.

I agree. But rather than start another guns yes guns no thread, I would rather focus on the need to nurture healthy relationships. This is a tragedy

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Guns don't kill. People with guns do.

fixed

If he was hells bent on exterminating his family, he would have found another way to do it. A gun is a tool. It is the idiot holding it that kills.

And I would hold any bet that any such individual couldn't do half the damage if he didn't have a gun. You can shoot and kill 4 people in little time but try and stab 4 people to death with an entire family around. Not likely to happen. That's all I'm saying.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Brother Dog... if he didn't have guns and still had a terrible psychotic break, the massacre would have still happened. And do know I am not a gun lover at all.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Brother Dog... if he didn't have guns and still had a terrible psychotic break, the massacre would have still happened. And do know I am not a gun lover at all.

I don't think so. There are thousands of such tragedies that occur in this country and the vast majority are carried out with guns. That majority gets bigger when you look at those case where there are multiple victims. There's really no way to deny that.

Edited November 27, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Brother Dog... if he didn't have guns and still had a terrible psychotic break, the massacre would have still happened. And do know I am not a gun lover at all.

I don't think so. There are thousands of such tragedies that occur in this country and the vast majority are carried out with guns. That majority gets bigger when you look at those case where there are multiple victims. There's really no way to deny that.

I concur. Sad but true.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Guns don't kill. People with guns do.

fixed

If he was hells bent on exterminating his family, he would have found another way to do it. A gun is a tool. It is the idiot holding it that kills.

And I would hold any bet that any such individual couldn't do half the damage if he didn't have a gun. You can shoot and kill 4 people in little time but try and stab 4 people to death with an entire family around. Not likely to happen. That's all I'm saying.

You don't seem to realize the problem starts with the human, not the gun. Machetes and axes do a good job too. As do baseball bats and hammers. A psycho is a psycho.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

You don't seem to realize the problem starts with the human, not the gun. Machetes and axes do a good job too. As do baseball bats and hammers. A psycho is a psycho.

I also agree. hola spooky

[Nagishkaw 510]

I knew it wouldn't be long before something like this would happen over the holiday.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Guns don't kill. People with guns do.

fixed

If he was hells bent on exterminating his family, he would have found another way to do it. A gun is a tool. It is the idiot holding it that kills.

And I would hold any bet that any such individual couldn't do half the damage if he didn't have a gun. You can shoot and kill 4 people in little time but try and stab 4 people to death with an entire family around. Not likely to happen. That's all I'm saying.

You don't seem to realize the problem starts with the human, not the gun. Machetes and axes do a good job too. As do baseball bats and hammers. A psycho is a psycho.

As I said before: There are thousands of such tragedies that occur in this country and the vast majority are carried out with guns. That majority gets bigger when you look at those case where there are multiple victims. There's really no way to deny that.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Guns don't kill. People do.

I agree.

It takes a lot more effort to kill 4 people with an axe or with a fork than it does with a gun. So while a psychofreak will kill regardless, he likely kills a lot more with a gun. If mini-nukes were legal, you'd likely see psychofreaks like this guy taking out entire towns from time to time. We'll never stop the freaks from going nuts on the rest of us, but we do not need to be giving them the tools to make it easier.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Maybe we should ban guns, starting with the Jews.