May trials set in 2022 Grand Island police shooting

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Two trials are scheduled in May for suspects connected to an August shooting incident involving Grand Island police.

Omar Tax Cervantes, 17, of Alda, is charged with 17 felonies in connection with the incident, including six counts of Use of a Deadly Weapon to Commit a Felony, two counts of Attempted First Degree Assault on a Peace Officer, two counts of Accessory to a Felony, two counts of Terroristic Threats, two counts of Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, and one count each of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Operating a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest.

Carlos Tax Cervantes, 21, also of Alda, is charged with Aiding and Abetting Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm From or Near a Vehicle, two counts of Aiding and Abetting the Criminal Attempt of First Degree Assault on a Peace Officer and one count of Transfer of a Handgun to a Juvenile.

Both are suspects in an Aug. 2022 incident in which shots were fired at Grand Island Police officers while they were serving a warrant on Louise Street.

Hall County Court records show that Grand Island Police were serving a search warrant at a home in the 500 block of West Louise Street Aug. 5. While investigators were outside the residence, a maroon Lincoln LS driven by Omar Tax Cervantes stopped within half a block of the officers. The affidavit indicates that Favion Lara, 18, Grand Island, got out of the car and fired two shots at the officers in an apparent attempt to prevent them searching the residence. Lara then got back into the car and Cervantes drove away.

Court records indicate that police believe Carlos Tax Cervantes provided the weapon used in the shooting and that he knew Lara was planning to use the gun to distract officers from executing the search warrant.

A judge last week sentenced Lara to 30-50 years in prison for felony conspiracy and 15-30 years each for four other felony convictions.

Both Omar Tax Cervantes and Carlos Tax Cervantes will be in court April 10 for a plea hearing. Jury trials for both are scheduled May 1.