A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest in the murder of 73-year-old Nelson Alexander
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Detectives and investigators in Fairfax County continue to investigate the murder of 73-year-old Nelson Alexander in Falls Church earlier this month. Fairfax County Police said Alexander was shot in the chest while stopping at an ATM on his way to work around 5:20 in the morning on October 20. He later died from his injuries.
Now, detectives have release new surveillance video of the suspected shooter as well as two other associates with that suspect in the early morning hours before the murder took place.
Ed O’Carroll , Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Cyber and Forensics Division, shared surveillance video from a Metro bus in Fairfax County from around 1 a.m.
In the video, three young men get on the bus, one of the suspects is wearing the distinctive backpack seen in previously released surveillance video from the Falls Church ATM.
O’Carroll said detectives and investigators “firmly believe they were in the community doing other crime,” prior to the deadly ATM shooting, and he urged members of the community to take another look at any potential surveillance video they may have, going back several days from the date of the crime.
“We have been inundated with tips from the community. They have all been very helpful. We ask you to look again,” O’Carroll said.
In addition to new surveillance video, O’Carroll said detectives have recovered a 2009 Nissan Murano seen at the ATM after the murder took place. O’Carroll said detectives discovered the car had been stolen from the Alexandria area, and was found abandoned after the shooting took place.
O’Carroll said investigators are combing through the car gathering evidence, as well as working to gather more surveillance video and follow up on tips.
“These are all pins on a map we are trying to connect,” O’Carroll said.
In an effort to bring more tips forward, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie Patterson called the case a tragedy and unacceptable, and said the ATF is making all of its resources available to assist in the investigation.
Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis, O’Carroll, and Patterson urged people to come forward to get justice for Alexander and his family. Anyone with information can call the ATF’s tip line at 888-ATF-TIP (283-8477) or Fairfax County Crimesolvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477). Tips can be anonymous.
“If you wanna be anonymous, be anonymous, but for God’s sake pick the phone up,” Davis said.