ARREST MADE IN TRIPLE HOMICIDE; VICTIMS HAVE ROOTS IN LAKESIDE

By Miriam Raftery

June 23, 2014 (Lakeside) – A suspect has been arrested by San Diego Police in the case of a triple homicide  of three young people with ties to Lakeside, where their family runs an Italian restaurant.

Carlo Gallopa Mercado, 29, was booked on three counts of first-degree murder for the Christmas eve killing of Ilona Flint and Salvatore Belvedore, both 22 years old old, in the parking lot at the Mission Valley Center shopping mall last Christmas Eve.  Mercado is also charged with killing Salvatore’s brother and Flint’s fiancé, Gianni Belvedere, age 24. His body was found in the trunk of a car in  Riverside County.

No motive has yet been released for the murders, though family members have said they are unfamiliar with the suspect.  10 News reports that the suspect has been transferred from County jail to a local hospital for undisclosed reasons.

Antoinette Belvedere, sister of the two slain men, said the family was “overcome with emotion and relief” at news that an arrest has been made. She also extended the families’ thanks to the San Diego Police Department. 

Ilona Flint made a 911 call reporting that she had been shot at the mall, where she and her fiance’s brother had gone to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. She died at the scene and he passed away at a hospital two days later from his injuries.  Gianni Belvedere was initially reported missing, until his body was found in the trunk of his dark green Toyota Camry with Utah license plates outside a fast-food restaurant in Riverside. 

All three victims had been shot in the head. 

The brothers had worked at Mario’s Ristaurante on Woodside Avenue in Lakeside, an Italian restaurant owned by their family in Lakeside. The restaurant has since changed names.

Gianni had recently registered a business in Utah and trademarked it in San Diego. The business, La Primavera, offered prepackaged foods including the restaurant’s  signature creamy tomato basil soup sold at Costco, as well as Toscana pasta sauce.  La Primavera Specialty Foods also offers gluten-free Italian foods.

The family had set up a website and held a fundraiser at the Eastbound Bar and Grill in Lakeside to raise money for a reward. They also set up a website, www.justice4sd3.com . The site stated that it was dedicated to getting justice for “three wonderful people who are loved by their family and friends.”