The man accused of killing two people and injuring two others at a Sonic Drive-In smiled for his mugshot when he was arrested on homicide charges.
Shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Saturday (November 21), Bellevue police responded to the scene at the Cornhusker Road restaurant.
“Officers dispatched were initially told of a possible bomb inside of a moving truck parked in the parking lot,” a Bellevue Police Department news release reads. But “the call was updated to a shooting.”
Bellevue Police Department Lt. Andy Jashinske later explained that fireworks possibly set a U-Haul truck ablaze in the Sonic parking lot, according to the Omaha World-Herald. The Omaha Police Bomb Squad also assessed the scene.
Authorities arrested the suspect, Roberto Carlos Silva Jr., 23, “without incident,” and identified four shooting victims.
Victims were later identified as Ryan Helbert, 28, and Nathan Pastrana, 22, who died at the scene. Kenneth Gerner, 25, and Zoey Reece Atalig Lujan, 18, were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, according to police.
The community organization Bellevue First announced it will collect donations to help the victims and their families.
“Bellevue is a generous and giving community, one that cares for each one of the individuals that live here, and who would like a way to help those affected by this tragedy,” Bellevue First said in a statement. “Bellevue First is starting a fundraiser to be divided equally between the four individuals and families that were a part of this senseless tragedy…Everyone involved in the senseless tragedy is in our thoughts and prayers.”
Silva, of Omaha, was booked into the Sarpy County Jail on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson, Jashinske tweeted with a news release Sunday.Sarpy County Jail
The announcement and release of Silva’s mugshot spurred responses from Twitter users, expressing anger at Silva’s alleged actions and at his grinning mugshot, showing “no remorse.”
Days before the Sonic Drive-In shooting, on November 18, Bellevue police investigated an identity theft at the restaurant. Police pulled the suspect over after his car was seen leaving the Sonic. He’d apparently ordered food using the Sonic app, according to a Bellevue Police Department news release.
During the November 18 traffic stop, authorities arrested Silva for identity theft, and he was apparently in possession of three firearms at that time, according to the release.
Silva allegedly used the app to charge $57 worth of hamburgers and corndogs to another customer’s account, the Omaha World-Herald reported. Silva was released from jail the following day, however, making bail.
Silva’s family declined to comment to the World-Herald.
The Bellevue Police Department notes that anyone with information should contact the department at 402-293-3106, or call the Sarpy County Crimestoppers at 402-592-STOP (7867).
Photos: Sarpy County Jail