Police arrest two teens for ATM murder

Fairfax County Police announced on April 11 the arrest of two teens in the murder of Nelson Alexander Sr.

Alexander, age 73, was shot Oct. 20, 2021, at 5:20 a.m. during a botched robbery at a Wells Fargo ATM on Annandale Road in Falls Church. He died three days later.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said the getaway driver, Timothy Kashaun Bradshaw Robinson, age 19 at the time of the crime, was arrested for second-degree murder and robbery. He is at the Adult Detention Center.

Davis is not releasing the name of the shooter because he was 17 at the time of the crime. He is being held in a Baltimore County jail on unrelated charges, including felony murder and robbery resulting in the death of the victim.

Once he is certified as an adult, his name will be released. The FCPD is working on getting him extradited to Fairfax County.

Related story: Police release new video on ATM murder; reward offered for tips

The FCPD had shared photos and videos of the two suspects and a third man on a Metrobus hours before the murder. They were headed to the City of Alexandria where they stole a 2009 Nissan Murano. That car was found Oct. 24 near the ATM where Alexander was murdered.

They spent the evening stealing vehicles with a third man. The third man is not responsible for the death of Alexander, said Maj. Ed O’Carroll, chief of the Major Crimes, Cyber, and Forensics Bureau.

The firearm used in the murder has not been recovered. The police believe it was a revolver. “We don’t have ballistic evidence but do have a ton of forensic evidence,” Davis said. “This case was built on science and technology.”

Davis said Charlie Patterson, special agent in charge of the Washington Field Division of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, played a critical role in the investigation, while the Metro police and several other law enforcement agencies collaborated with the FCPD on the case.

Thanks to WMATA’s surveillance camera system on buses and numerous tips from the public, the police were able to map the suspects’ whereabouts throughout the night. “It was an entire night of crime,” Davis said.

Related story: Large crowd honors ATM murder victim Nelson Alexander

As soon as the police made an arrest, they notified Alexander’s family on April 8. Nelson’s wife Jean, his sister Joyce, his son Nelson Jr., and other family members were at the press conference where Davis announced the arrests.

“We were overjoyed when we got the news his killers were caught,” said Kendra, speaking for the family. “Uncle Bird, as he was known, was a great man. He was a loving man. He loved his family and friends and everyone loved him.”

“We made a strong commitment” at a candlelight vigil for Alexander Oct. 30 that “we were going to get our guy,” Davis said. “A promise made is a promise kept.”