Murder Conviction In 2021 Fatal Shooting At Falls Church ATM

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A Fairfax County jury convicted 20-year-old Nathaniel Lark IV of first-degree murder on Thursday in the fatal shooting of 73-year-old Nelson Alexander of Falls Church during a robbery at an ATM in 2021, according to authorities.

Early on the morning of Oct. 20, 2021, Alexander was visiting a Wells Fargo ATM on Annandale Road before going to work, when he was noticed by Lark, a D.C. resident, and his half-brother, 22-year-old Timothy Bradshaw Robinson of Falls Church, according to court documents. The two men had stolen a Nissan Murano SUV and were seeking other opportunities for theft.

Lark exited the Nissan with a firearm, confronted Alexander, and attempted to rob the older man, according to court documents.

"Mr. Alexander resisted, and Lark fired two shots with his .38 caliber special Colt revolver, hitting Mr. Alexander once in the chest, before getting back into the car driven by Bradshaw Robinson and fleeing the scene," court records say. "Mr. Alexander was found by two citizens and was taken to the hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries."

During the trial, prosecutors presented security camera videos of the attempted robbery, showing Lark approaching Alexander and attempting to rob him at gunpoint, court records say. Lark is seen taking a stand and then moving out of frame before firing. The sound of the shot was audible on the video.

Prosecutors also presented evidence of blood found on the stolen Murano, cellphone location data, and text messages, which documented the events leading up to the shooting.

“Nelson Alexander didn’t know the defendant, he didn’t do anything wrong, and he was just going about his day as usual,” Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano. “This needless, senseless violence that stole a husband and father from his family is beyond tragic. I hope this sends a message to anyone who thinks about engaging in this kind of behavior: you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.”

The jury also found Lark guilty of using of a firearm in the commission of murder, according to court documents. He is due back in court on March 13, when he faces a possible sentence of up to life in prison on the murder charge and up to three years on the firearms charge.

On Feb. 22, 2024, Robinson entered an Alford plea to the robbery charge and was sentenced on May 10, 2024 to 20 years of total incarceration with all but three years and six months suspended, with five years of probation, court records say.