Thanksgiving Day killer still at large

JUPITER, Fla., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The Florida man suspected of gunning down four members of his family on Thanksgiving Day was still at large Saturday, police said.

Witnesses said the alleged gunman, Michael Merhige, briefly left the family holiday dinner gathering in Jupiter Thursday evening and returned with a gun, driving off after the shootings, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

The dead included Makayla Sitton, 6, daughter of the Thanksgiving hosts, Jim and Muriel Sitton. Sitton is a cameraman for WPTV and Merhige is his wife's cousin.

The other victims were Merhige's sisters, Lisa Knight and Carla Merhige, both 33, from the Miami area and his aunt, Raymonde Joseph, 76, of Jupiter. Patrick Knight, 37, Lisa's husband, and a cousin, Clifford Gebara, 52, were wounded.

Neighbors described hearing a gun going off.

"I heard three quick shots," said Vera Armstrong, house-sitting for her daughter nearby. "Shortly after, I heard the police cars and the helicopters. I called my daughter and she said, 'Oh no, don't tell me it was Makayla.' "

Witnesses said Merhige arrived for dinner at about 5:30 p.m. and remained there until the shootings at about 10 p.m.