On Monday, a man in Nebraska pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for shooting two Sonic Drive-In workers in 2020. He also pleaded guilty to arson.
Authorities say that Roberto Silva Jr. set a U-Haul rental truck ablaze in the parking lot of Sonic in the city of Bellevue. He did so in order to lure people outside before he started shooting.
Nathan Pastrana, 22, and Ryan Helbert, 28, both employees, were killed. To other employees were wounded, as well.
Two days prior to the killings, employees had called police, regarding Silva and fraudulent activity. He was accused of attempting to buy $57 worth of food on some else’s Sonic app account.
An investigation was conducted, and Silva was apprehended and taken into custody. When he was freed, he committed the murders the following day.
Silva’s plea wasn’t a part of a deal, and prosecutors say that they will still pursue the death penalty.
Because of a law in Nebraska, the state Supreme Court will now have to appoint a three-judge panel to decide if the death penalty is justified in this case.
