GUILTY CA - Gianni, 24, & Sal Belvedere, 22, Ilona Flint, 22, San Diego, 24 Dec 2013 - #2

[nikb]

Lt. Mike Hastings handled that Press Conference with such professionalism. I have gained added respect for the thorough and excellent job the SDPD did in this case.

What can I say after finally seeing the supposed killer's face? I don't think any of this is ever going to make sense or be a good reason.

Ilona, Salvatore, and Gianni will always and forever be missed by their loved ones.

BBM that's for sure, Curious Me. There IS no good reason IMO... none.

 

[Scanner]

"The arrest came after investigators and forensic lab personnel developed substantial evidence from Mercado's arrest," Hastings said.

He also said following the killings, investigators assessed any potential threats against surviving family members.

Hastings provided few new details about the killings of the three, nor what he said led investigators to Mercado, 29.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jun/23/belvedere-flint-murders-carlo-mercado/

 

[nikb]

AB husband and little girl...

Thanks SDHelps! The little girl's sure adorable. I'm glad she seemed too young to understand what's happening but I bet she misses Gianni, Sal, and Ilona. I assumed they were related somehow and it made me sad knowing the little one wouldn't be able to grow up knowing them.

Thanks for clarifying on the picture, too. Weird that it somehow got linked up.

 

[SDHELPS]

Thanks SDHelps! The little girl's sure adorable. I'm glad she seemed too young to understand what's happening but I bet she misses Gianni, Sal, and Ilona. I assumed they were related somehow and it made me sad knowing the little one wouldn't be able to grow up knowing them.

Thanks for clarifying on the picture, too. Weird that it somehow got linked up.

Well I now stand correct it is a brother in law of AB but that is her little girl And Best decided against the briefing with the family as it was a difficult time for all and she thought it best. She will be here later to fill in any other missing pieces :drumroll:

 

[lynxofsd]

Police discovered a loaded weapon in Mercado's vehicle as he was heading back from target practice on Jan. 18 -- the day after Gianni Belvedere's body was found in Riverside -- according to police records and his attorney.

I'm not familiar with California law on this matter.

"Target practice" with a loaded weapon is not illegal, obviously.

But, is driving with a loaded weapon in a vehicle, even if the weapon is legally owned, not legal in California?

And, he had a silencer, also?

Are silencers illegal for all private citizens to own in California, even if they own guns legally?

(In Texas, would he even be guilty of a weapon-related crime related to the above circumstances?)

What, do you think, brought him to the attention of LE (who discovered these weapons/silencers) in the first place? Does LE look at all subjects in possession of loaded weapons and a silencer as potential criminals, and cross reference everything they can about them and their weapons into a database in the hope that other crimes can be solved?

Maybe he was speeding, and they fortuitously searched his car?

Why would LE have probable cause to search his car?

 

[Curious Me]

Seeing that sweet little girl there made me think about the empty spaces where Sal, Gianni, and Ilona
would be. I could almost feel them there in spirit. How do you explain to the children how all three suddenly disappeared? Keeping their loved ones in my prayers.

Still not able to accept this killer acted alone; however, I do have confidence that LE knows what they're doing and will get all the answers on this case.

 

[Curious Me]

Hope this helps answer your questions about silencers. I know they were on the look out for a certain type and color of car, but don't know how come he got pulled over. Glad they did pull him over, that's for sure.

Thank You!

"According to Berg, his client pleaded guilty to possessing a silencer, and prosecutors dropped the three other charges."
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loc...-Weapons-Charges-264177631.html#ixzz35Qofu5v7


Apparently, silencers are illegal, in most cases, in California. It's a big deal that he was caught with one. I never gave the subject much thought.


http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Silencers
Penal Code 33410
Any person, firm, or corporation who within this state possesses a silencer is guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison or by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

I'm not familiar with California law on this matter.

"Target practice" with a loaded weapon is not illegal, obviously.

But, is driving with a loaded weapon in a vehicle, even if the weapon is legally owned, not legal in California?

And, he had a silencer, also?

Are silencers illegal for all private citizens to own in California, even if they own guns legally?

(In Texas, would he even be guilty of a weapon-related crime related to the above circumstances?)

What, do you think, brought him to the attention of LE (who discovered these weapons/silencers) in the first place? Does LE look at all subjects in possession of loaded weapons and a silencer as potential criminals, and cross reference everything they can about them and their weapons into a database in the hope that other crimes can be solved?

Maybe he was speeding, and they fortuitously searched his car?

Why would LE have probable cause to search his car?

 

[mrsobrien]

NBC just showed a snippet of interview with Mercado's defense attorney, Michael Berg. The usual denying involvement, has seen no evidence, family is supporting 100% stuff.

 

[SDHELPS]

Just reported on KFMB televised news that Mercado attempted an overdose on Tylenol and was taken to UCSD Hospital to have his stomach pumped over the weekend. Sorry was just reported by reporter Dominic Garcia on video but site is not updated with the video yet. Will post as soon as it is.

For those that follow Twitter here is his account (sorry no twitter account for me): https://twitter.com/DomCBS8

I'll be looking for the update but if not within TOS please delete.

http://www.cbs8.com/story/25844328/christmas-eve-triple-murder-suspect-to-be-arraigned-wednesday

 

[SDHELPS]

NBC just showed a snippet of interview with Mercado's defense attorney, Michael Berg. The usual denying involvement, has seen no evidence, family is supporting 100% stuff.

As the information continues to become public I would NOT want to be this defense attorney :scared:

 

[mrsobrien]

For real! Even the (alleged?) suicide screams guilt!

As the information continues to become public I would NOT want to be this defense attorney :scared:

 

[jggordo]

I believe that using a silencer on a gun it adds additional "rifling" on the bullet spent after leaving the initial gun. I spoke with a gun shop owner my family has known for years and he says the "rifling" on a bullet is like the "fingerprint" of the make and model of a weapon. Subsequently using a silencer further adds an even more significant "print" to the bullet in so much that there are not that many silencers out there. He says if LE has the silencer it's better than having the gun itself. He says having the gun is like having the fingerprint but the silencer is like having the handprint.

His opinions and mine as well.

 

[gettez]

KGTV reported that suspect worked at Target for 8 years and they also showed a photo of the arrest warrant ... on that warrant, you could clearly read that the suspect had a DNA sample taken previously. I'm hoping for a link soon and I will update this post!

 

[nikb]

Just reported on KFMB televised news that Mercado attempted an overdose on Tylenol and was taken to UCSD Hospital to have his stomach pumped over the weekend. Sorry was just reported by reporter Dominic Garcia on video but site is not updated with the video yet. Will post as soon as it is.

For those that follow Twitter here is his account (sorry no twitter account for me): https://twitter.com/DomCBS8

I'll be looking for the update but if not within TOS please delete.

http://www.cbs8.com/story/25844328/christmas-eve-triple-murder-suspect-to-be-arraigned-wednesday

How in the heck does one get ahold of enough Tylenol to overdose on it within hours of getting to jail?

 

[mrsobrien]

I wonder if he took the pills directly before the arrest in hopes of avoiding prosecution.

How in the heck does one get ahold of enough Tylenol to overdose on it within hours of getting to jail?

 

[nikb]

Well I now stand correct it is a brother in law of AB but that is her little girl And Best decided against the briefing with the family as it was a difficult time for all and she thought it best. She will be here later to fill in any other missing pieces :drumroll:

I'll forgive you this time... (I'm teasing - thanks for the update)

Something about that little girl just made me even more sad about the whole entire thing, especially the loss the family has experienced. It emphasized for me how many years these 3 lost, and how many years everyone else will lose with them.

 

[KateB]

Today's press conference is on SanDiegoSix's Youtube account.

http://youtu.be/KOOgHudxFAU

Published on Jun 23, 2014

A suspect was behind bars Monday in connection with the shooting deaths of two brothers and a woman who was engaged to one of them, a crime that came to light when two of the victims were found mortally wounded in a parked car at Westfield Mission Valley shopping center last Christmas Eve.

Carlo Gallopa Mercado, 29, was taken into custody Friday night in Mira Mesa on suspicion of three counts of first-degree murder, according to San Diego police.

 

[ontheclock]

Yeah!!

 

[jggordo]

I'm curious as to why there is no (that I know of) arrest mugshot of this suspect some 3 days after the fact. It's unusual to me. Maybe different in CA but where I live it is available online after the booking has taken place with the booking information and bond info. Strange to me.

JMO's

 

[nikb]

I'm curious as to why there is no (that I know of) arrest mugshot of this suspect some 3 days after the fact. It's unusual to me. Maybe different in CA but where I live it is available online after the booking has taken place with the booking information and bond info. Strange to me.

JMO's

It's unusual for CA as far as I've ever seen. I think it's really weird.