Thanksgiving Tragedy

[RockaFowler]

There was a tragedy at my co-worker's home yesterday. And it was just awful. He was having a dinner party for his family (about 17 people). One of his relatives, Paul Michael Merhige, left the party only to return at 10pm and opened fire on 6 people in the house. One of the people murdered was the 6 year old daughter of my co-worker. Here is the story from the station I work at:

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/northpbc/jupiter/story/Shooting-at-Thanksgiving-gathering-in-Jupiter/C9CCTgKqtUG6tFM6t3SmBA.cspx

The entire TV station is devastated by this news. Such a tragedy on Thanksgiving.

This is the email that we received after the incident last night:

With so many people out for the Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to be sure you were all aware of the terrible tragedy that has befallen our friend and colleague Jim Sitton and his family.

His 6 year old daughter Makayla and 3 other members of their extended family died after a shooting at their Jupiter home Thursday night. Another person was wounded. We have had extensive coverage on air and online. As of this writing, the suspect in the shootings, a family member, is still at large.

Unfortunately, in the news business, we cover far too many instances of senseless violence. This particular story touches us here at WPTV like none other we have reported on. Jim is much beloved and highly respected by the people with whom he works. I know you will join me in keeping Jim and his wife Muriel in our most profound thoughts and prayers.

[eleny]

1. So sad

:hug:

[lillypaddle]

2. OMG

Another senseless killing by some lunatic. My heart goes out to the family. What can you even say about something like this? Damn.

[Spazito]

3. Very sad news....

I have no words

:hug: to the family, friends, co-workers.

[derby378]

4. I am so sorry to hear about this

:hug:

[rurallib]

5. Speechless - what a horror

[Kadie]

6. Wow. Very sad.

:cry:

[MrMickeysMom]

7. What the HELL is wrong with people?

Insane...

So, sorry.

[AndyA]

8. I read that story on MSNBC.com. They had a picture of the little girl.

She was very cute, and the article said she was supposed to appear in a presentation of "The Nutcracker" today. :(

Very sad. More lives ruined for all the wrong reasons.

[RockaFowler]

More to the story

The people he killed were all his relatives. Including little Makayla, he shot his 2 twin sisters (both 33) and his Aunt (who happened to be Jim's mother-in-law). One of his sisters was pregnant. Her husband was also shot. He is still in the hospital.

We are reporting right now that he was in a Mental Hospital for the past few months. How did he get a gun if he was in a mental facility??

[Missy Vixen]

13. Oh, but those in the Gungeon claim there are laws against this, so it never happens!

My condolences go out to the family involved.

Someone shot a six-year-old to death? If there's a Hell, I hope he goes there.

[aikoaiko]

19. Usually it takes some form of adjudication of mental illness before it will stop someone from buying

a new gun from a licensed dealer. But even then sometimes they have previously purchased guns stashed away, buy used from a private party, or borrow/take one from family or friends.

There were some recent changes to make more information about mental illness available to prevent the purchase of new firearms from dealers, but I'm not sure if that would have impacted this case.

We need to keep the mentally unstable and dangerous in institutions where they can't harm others or themselves.

[redwitch]

9. That's horrible!

Those poor people! Too many people going over the edge that have access to weapons.

[SharonRB]

10. I heard this awful story on TV a little while ago, but of course had no clue

there was a DU connection.

I'm so sad for your coworker and his family. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

[corpseratemedia]

11. so sorry for everyone touched by this..

[pansypoo53219]

12. i no longer bemoan my horribly

functional family.

[annabanana]

14. My heart goes out to this poor family.

May they get all the support they need in the days & weeks ahead.

[Cleita]

15. I'm so sorry for that family and

for you too having to be so close to a needless tragedy. I hope they catch the gun man before he kills again. My condolences to all.

[Berry Cool]

16. I saw an online story about this; didn't know a DU'er was so close to it.

How horrible. There really are no words. All I can do is hope for justice, because I don't think there is ever any healing from something like this.

[Odin2005]

17. Jesus!

I'm so sorry! :(

[aikoaiko]

18. This is terrible. Thoughts and prayers to the victims and the surviving family

I would like to think this is the result of severe mental illness, but some people are just cruel.

We have got to make room in institutions for people who are violent by choice or mentally illness.