The Omaha man who smiled for his mugshot after allegedly killing two people and injuring two others at a Sonic Drive-In will be held without bail, a Sarpy County judge ruled Tuesday morning (November 24).
Roberto Carlos Silva Jr., 23, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, arson and four weapon charges, the Associated Press reported Monday (November 23).
According to a prosecutor, Silva drove a U-Haul truck to the Bellevue Sonic with his guns in the back of the truck. Then, he set the truck ablaze, the Omaha World-Herald reported Tuesday morning. Silva told Judge Robert Wester he wanted the Sarpy County Public Defender’s Office to defend him in the case. Wester ordered Silva be held without bail.
“Officers dispatched were initially told of a possible bomb inside of a moving truck parked in the parking lot,” according to a Bellevue Police Department news release. But “the call was updated to a shooting.”
Silva allegedly opened fire at the restaurant on Cornhusker Road shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Saturday (November 21). He was arrested that night “without incident.”
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.
There are also GoFundMe fundraisers — including the Bellevue Sonic Victim Memorial Fund, Helping Kenny, and the Bellevue, NE Sonic Drive-In Tragedy — 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.”
Photo: Sarpy County Jail