Parents allegedly shoot teen daughter’s pimp

Parents shoot teen daughter’s pimp. Photo via stock.xchng.

Barry Gilton and his longtime girlfriend, Lupe Mercado, tried everything to rescue their 17-year-old daughter from a life of prostitution. However, after failing using other avenues, authorities allege that the San Francisco couple resorted to tracking down her pimp and killing him.

Eric Safire, Gilton’s attorney stated, “They had gone out to local police agencies, agencies in Southern California – they had even tried talking to national organizations. Every place they turned to turned them away.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that the girl left home a year ago. Her parents were very worried about her and discovered that she was in escort ads.

Gilton and Mercado are accused of then tracking down 22-year-old Calvin Sneed and gunning him down on June 4th near Candlestick Park. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Sneed was believed to be the girl’s pimp and a gang member.

The couple allegedly followed Sneed throughout California and attempted to shoot him on one other occasion before the fatal shooting.

Sneed was shot while driving a Toyota Camry. After being shot, he crashed into a parked car. He later died at San Francisco General Hospital.

According to KTLA in Los Angeles, attorneys for the couple state that they admit to trying to rescue their daughter, but they did not murder Sneed.

Prosecutors believe that they have enough evidence to show that the shooting was premeditated.

The couple, who have been together since middle school, appeared in court on Wednesday. Gilton, 38, and Mercado, 37, face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and one count of discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle. Gilton also faces the additional charge of possession of a firearm as a felon. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Gilton had been convicted of drug possession and dealing in 1995.