The search continued Friday for a San Diego man missing since the deadly Christmas Eve shooting of his girlfriend and brother near Westfield Mission Valley Mall.
According to the San Diego Police Department, Gianni Belvedere, 24, was last seen Monday around 10 p.m. at his home in San Diego’s Tierrasanta community.
Police have now issued a missing person bulletin for Gianni describing him as an Italian-American man with brown hair and brown eyes. He’s 6 feet tall, 165 pounds and likely driving a four-door, dark green 2004 Toyota Camry XLE with the Utah license plate B154VZ.
On Tuesday at around 1:15 a.m., Gianni’s longtime girlfriend, Ilona Flint, and his brother, Salvatore Belvedere, were critically shot in the parking lot of Mission Valley mall, just outside of a Macy’s department store. The store was open to accomodate last-minute Christmas shoppers.
Flint suffered a gunshot wound to the head but despite her injuries, was able to call 911 to report the shooting, telling dispatchers she was near the mall.
Officers located the wounded victims in a vehicle near the 1600-block of Camino Del Rio North. Flint was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter.
Salvatore sustained gunshot wounds to the head and torso and was transported to a local hospital. He remained in critical condition for several days and on Friday, the SDPD confirmed he had died from his injuries.
Salvatore and Gianni Belvedere lived in the Tierrasanta neighborhood. Neighbors say Flint lived with them as well.
Paul Donato, Salvatore's cousin, issued a family statement Friday saying that Salvatore was an organ donor and a heart transplant was performed after his death. The statement went on to say that the Belvedere family is still looking for Gianni.
Both Flint and Salvatore were 22 years old.
According to police, the suspect in the shooting was described as a male wearing tan pants, between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-11. A possible vehicle of interest in the case is a 2008 to 2011 dark gray Honda sedan.
Police said they have not yet determined a motive for the fatal shooting and have warned news outlets not to jump to conclusions about a motive. On Thursday, officials revealed that it does not appear the shooting stemmed from a robbery.
Now, three days later, police have shifted their attention to finding Gianni, who is considered a missing person at this point. Family members said Gianni may have also been at the mall at the time of the shooting.
On Thursday, members of both the Flint and Belvedere families made a public plea asking for Gianni to return home.
“Gianni, we need you to come home,” said his sister, Antoinette Belvedere.
Through tears, Flint’s mother, Inga Flint-Jones, echoed that statement, adding: “Your mom and dad need you. Please call us.”
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating Gianni. Anyone with information related to his whereabouts or the shooting should contact the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Earlier this week, family members said they don’t know why Salvatore was at the mall with his brother’s girlfriend on Tuesday morning.
Andre Briones, a friend who worked with Flint at a vintage shop in La Jolla, said Flint had been dating Gianni for eight years. Briones said the Belvedere brothers would take turns picking up Flint from work because she didn’t have a car.
A memorial for Ilona Flint is Saturday at 6 p.m. at La Jolla Shores.
Photo Credit: SDPD