Channel 5 in shock after gun attack on beloved lensman Jim Sitton’s home
Tags: Channel 5, Jim Sitton, jupiter, Makayla, WPTV
| Friday 27 November 2009 11:57 am
Jim Sitton, staring at one of his awards for a story titled "Dangerously Dim" (Courtesy b-roll.net)
The WPTV-Channel 5 newsroom is going through the toughest day in its 55-year history.
Tragedy struck the station’s best-known, award-winning photographer, Jim Sitton, on what should have been one of the happiest times of the year.
A gunman related to Sitton’s wife, Muriel, entered their Jupiter home and allegedly shot six people gathered for the Thanksgiving feast. Four have died, including Sitton’s 6-year-old daughter, Makayla. The suspect, Michael Merhige, remains at large.
“Since Makayla was born, Jim has been taking pictures of her every single day to chronicle how she was developing and growing,” said a station insider who asked to remain anonymous. “You’d turn on the computer used for editing tapes, and there’d be pictures of Makayla all over the screen. It’s like everyone at the station knew her.”
Sitton, 48, has been at the NBC affiliate for about 15 years, after a short stint at WPBF-Channel 25. Sitton mostly worked investigative assignments with the station’s Contact 5 reporters, Shannon Cake and Kelley Dunn. Both women spent some time with Sitton at the home after the 10 p.m. shooting.
“He’s the most amazing friend,” Cake said, her voice breaking with emotion. “I just can’t talk about it.”
For more about the tragedy, look below or click
Makayla (Courtesy WPTV)
Channel 5 boss Steve Wasserman e-mailed this statement to staff this morning:
“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.”
Important professional and personal rites of passage for Sutton happened at Channel 5. He’s won several Emmys for his camera work in 1995, 2003 and 2008. And he met his wife on the job. She was a producer on stories filmed by Sitton until the late 1990s. Sitton and Muriel were married in 2000.
“I worked with Jim and Muriel daily for about 7 years in the 1990s,” said former 5 anchor/reporter Jim Brosemer. “I remember being impressed with how he raised his son (from a previous relationship) as a single dad while he juggled a demanding job. It’s hard to imagine how he and Muriel must feel.”
Hours before the tragedy, Sitton, known by his co-workers as a man of faith, posted Psalm 100 on his Facebook page. The passage from the Bible is known as the Psalm of Thanksgiving:
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”
By this morning, the psalm was taken down.
I was really saddened when I saw about this earlier today. Such an awful thing to happen. Really there are no words…
This is absolutely heartbreaking.The entire family devastated on a day meant for giving thanks. This person who did this is extremely dangerous and I only pray that the police catch him before he has time to kill himself because thats always what these cowards do. My deepest sympathies to the Sitton family. God has a new angel in heaven with him now, Precious Makayla. R.I.P. little darling.
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to this entire family for their tragic losses. May your faith and that of other’s bring peace to comfort you during your time of sorrow.
[...] Page2Live is also reporting anchors Shannon Cake and Kelley Dunn who often work with Sitton were at his home shortly after the shooting. [...]
I don’t have words to espressed my condolence to the family, as a parent you never think going to something like this. All Jupiter is with you and our prayers to your family, GOD will provide the strengh
This is the most senseless of all tragedies.I can’t even imagine the heartbreak and sorrow this family is going through. I was raised in a very strong Christian family and believe in God, however its moments like these that make me wonder what God is thinking when takes a precious little girl away so soon. This almmost makes me question my faith.
when they finally find the man who killed his family members he needs to be terminated from this earth. eye for an eye.
First, my deepest possible sympathy to this family- simply untouchable the pain.
I do want to say that the Psalm that was put up still remains true and one day I believe- once that message is looked back on- it is a promise from God that WE did not make us/or our children- but, God did- therefore He loves them more than we can. It is God’s reminder that that little girl and other members have left this temporary place to be with Him- in his loving arms- their forever home.
For a father greiving, that is not what he needs to think of. I just wanted to say that I do see the promise and comfort from that Psalm- long term of course.
God bless this family.
If the perpetrator had any sense, they will find him in his car with a self inflicted fatal bullet wound to his head and save us all the expense and hearbreak of a trial which would only result in his demise at the end anyway. Sincere condolences to his and teh WPTV family.
I was friends with this family and I knew them very well. They went to my church and I thought and helped out in the childrens ministry. Mikayla was such a beautiful, enlightend little girl. I will always keep this family in my prayers.
When will the lawmakers in this country do something to stop this senseless behavior? What is a man with a history of mental illness doing with a gun?? This is beyond a tearjerker and I’m sick and tired of hearing about these horrific stories day in and day out. My heart breaks for all the family members and I pray for them.
I have to agree w/#9 also if he is caught alive w/his mental health issues you know his lawyer will cop an insanity plea and he will be sent to some cushy mental hospital and we all will be paying for this low lifes room and board for many yrs.to come and the family will have to relive this every Thanksgiving esp. the parents of that sweet little girl.
Bigdawg61
I read your comment and wanted to offer this. Things happen in this life that we dont always understand but never question your faith in God. We may never know or understand why this tragedy occured but rest knowing now that Makayla is sitting in the lap of our Lord. She is at eternal peace.
ATTENTION LAW ENFORCEMENT: When you encounter this sonofab+tch just gun him down right away !
By the way Jose
I think you should remove the Megan Fox Happy Thanksgiving story directly following this headline subject matter. It’s pointless, tacky and hurtful. Show some class.Give the preceeding subject matter the reverence it deserves.
MY HEART AND PRAYERS GOES OUT TO THE SITTON FAMILY.
You’re absolutely right, Sinamen. It’s gone.
the photo you used Jose, it’s not an Emmy. it’s an award from b-roll.net
Easy guns mean easy murder, and our nation’s legislators seem unmoved. How many human sacrifices will it take?
[...] (from Page2Live.com) - The WPTV newsroom is going through the toughest day in its 55-year history. Tragedy struck the station’s best-known, award-winning photographer, Jim Sitton, on what should have been one of the happiest times of the year. A gunman related to Sitton’s wife, Muriel, entered their Jupiter home and allegedly shot six people gathered for the Thanksgiving feast. Four have died, including Sitton’s 6-year-old daughter, Makayla. The suspect, Michael Merhige, remains at large. “Since Makayla was born, Jim has been taking pictures of her every single day to chronicle how she was developing and growing,” said a station insider who asked to remain anonymous. “You’d turn on the computer used for editing tapes, and there’d be pictures of Makayla all over the screen. It’s like everyone at the station knew her.”…Cont… Tags: Jim Sitton, wptv [...]
This will continue to happen because no politician has the GUTS to stand to up the Right Wing gun nuts and make our joke of guns laws much, much more strict! So just get use to it people or start doing SOMETHING to change these laws NOW!
You got it wrong, Will. The Right Wing needs guns to fend off guys like Mehrige who–despite being a mental case–is allowed to carry a gun because of radical, liberal lawyer-loving Left Wing loonies such as yourself.
I am so saddened to read of this tragedy on a day of thanksgiving. My heart goes out to the family. I would want them to know that God is still God even in trying times. Although difficult to understand why an omniscient God would allow such an incident, we must remember his sovereignty. These types of incidents helps us to realize that we need him more in this society, not less. Don’t lose faith. God makes no mistakes and we will understand it better by and by.
My deepest condolences to the Merhige, Knight and Sitton families. Please Keep Patrick Knight in your prayers who is in ICU and fighting for his life. Patrick, his wife Lisa Merhige-Knight and Carla Merhige were all personal friends from the Coconut Grove Junior Chamber of Commerce. Great people and Lisa and Carla will be deeply missed and are in heaven now with our Lord! May they RIP!
Kim Newlin, can you please email me at soli1705@yahoo.com I am a friend of Patricks. Thank you.
Mr. Koeppel is more to be pitied than censured. I believe his problem is marital, a spouse who’s never satisfied. I’m sorry.
Please fellow readers, let’s not let this forum become a place for debate about American gun laws, or the punishment of the mentally ill. This man clearly had demons in his mind that we may never understand, and unfortunately guns are everywhere in America, whether we like it or not.
My condolences go out to Jim Sitton and his family today. The loss of your family members, and the loss of your own child seems more than a parent can bear. I hope that your faith can sustain you in this terrible time.
As a fellow Cameraman it will be very saddening to cover this story, and difficult to shoot through the tears.
Cops should execute this evil man even if he surrenders. They should place a throw down pistol in his hand. I appeal to Law enforcement….PLEASE SHOW HIM NO MERCY!!! BLOW HIM AWAY ASAP!!
I am devestated to hear this tragic news. Though I don’t know Jim personally, we
have been online friends for years. Jim is a man of faith and a friend to all. I pray that
the same Jesus, who he so openly shares with others, will continue
to give him strength, peace and hope for tomorrow.
I pray that law enforcement strikes down this killer with a righteous fury. He has absolutely no right to live another second.
My heart and prayers go out to the Sitton Family. God is still in control. It could have been worst. I know there hearts are sadden. Psalms 100 still stands rather is was taken down for whatever the reason was. God is God and he is still worthy to be praises. We may not understand why things like this happened, but it did. We must come together and hold them up in much prayer. I heard about it on the christian radio last night. We are with them in much prayer today. love you all, from Statesboro, and Savannah, Ga
Deborah
The father has a strong faith. He calmly speaks of his daughters life and proclaims his faith when most parents would be too broken to go in front of a camera. This is a great man, a holy man. God Bless him and all the victims in this case.
In my opinion The killer will be captured in Lousiana soon.
God Bless Mr.Jim Sitton and his wife:Our hearts go out to you;We are so sorry for your loss of your precious little angle. You are special people to deal with this
the way you are. We have a daughter only one. I can not imagine. God Bless you both and God bless your little angle
Jim, the entire Georgia/Kentucky branch of the SITTON family is keeping you and your family in our prayers.
Please post updates as they occur since we can only see what is on the internet because of limited access to your local news. My God give you the strength to get through these most difficult times. Our hearts go out to you and remember, you are never alone.
To The Sittons:
MY prayers will always be with you.THANK GOD THE MONSTER
PAUL HAS BEEN CAUGHT!! Even though it will not bring
presious Makalya back this monster has been caught.
The death penalty is the answer for him,my heart aches for the both of you that you have to go through the court. I wish you could avoid allthat and Paul go instaley to the death chair. God bless the both of you.
You are special people and so is Makayla.
Thank goodness this horrible man was caught. I think you have to be mentally ill to shoot anyone. Hope he is put away for a long time.
Re: comments about God. For people who do have strong faith, and who do read the bible often, the bible states that “time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all”- its not that God needed another angel in heaven, or that it was her “time to go”- God doesn’t take away lives, and the bible is VERY clear on that. This was something that was unforeseen…and very, very tragic. When all else is lost, lean on God- he understands your pain b/c we read that even he felt pain. And remember, the bible promises that God one day will wipe every tear out of our eyes, and mourning will be no more- Revelation. So sorry this happened to this family.