A shooting occurred at a Nebraska Sonic Drive-In on Saturday evening. Two were killed, and two were injured.
What We Know:
- On Saturday at 9:30 pm local time, officers were alerted of a possible bomb inside a truck at a Nebraska Sonic Drive-In. The call was updated, indicating a shooting had happened.
- When police arrived at the scene, they found four gunshot wound victims. All of the victims were Sonic employees. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two victims were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. An update on their condition is unknown.
- The truck that prompted the call to police was found at the scene on fire. In a press conference with Lieutenant Jashinske, he said the truck possibly had “fireworks or some type of device in it.”
- Police arrested Roberto Carlos Silva Jr, a 23-year-old man. He was arrested for two counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson, addressed in a Bellevue Police Department press release.
- Silva had recently been arrested for suspicion of identity theft the past Wednesday. He attempted to buy food at the same Sonic where the shooting took place.
- After his initial arrest, he was taken to Sarphy County Jail, where three firearms were discovered and logged as evidence. It is unclear if these firearms were ever returned to Silva and used in the Saturday shooting.
- In a statement with NBC news, Sonic Drive-In commented on the incident. “We are stunned and saddened by what occurred at the Bellevue, NE, SONIC Saturday night. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the franchise owner and the families and friends impacted by this horrific tragedy.” The statement continued by noting that the “franchisee is working with law enforcement as they investigate the matter.”
The investigation is still ongoing. The motive behind the shooting is still unknown.
