Nicholas Pierre Clark, the suspected robber of First Citizens Bank who took his own life March 25 after taking hostages and causing a standoff with police, has been linked to other recent robberies in the city.

Deputy Chief Adam Bondarek of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said through physical, circumstantial and eye witness accounts of recent robberies it is believed Clark was responsible for the robbery of a person on Fourth Avenue near Collins Avenue where an individual was assaulted and the armed robberies of Jackpot Bingo and Carolina Cyber Cafe II.

Clark died the Saturday following the bank robbery and an autopsy was performed the following day.

The autopsy confirmed Clark, 28, died from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head as he holed up in a house at 1308 Patsy Albritton Street.

The events that led Clark to shooting himself began when officers responded to a bank robbery at First Citizens on East Tenth Street shortly after 3:30 p.m.

A black male armed with a silver handgun dressed in dark clothes entered the bank and demanded money. He then fled on foot down adjacent Drake Street.

After a thorough search of the area police were led to a house at 1308 Patsy Albritton Street where money was located in the back yard and Clark’s sunglasses were found. Red stains from where a dye pack exploded were visible on the street.

Entry to the house was gained after obtaining a search warrant, Hinton said, and the two occupants of the house were located in the attic. Outside they informed police a black male armed with handgun was still in the house and had taken them hostage.  Hinton said a subsequent search of the house led police to discover Clark hiding behind a dresser.

When confronted by police Clark shot himself in the head with his weapon. He was transported to Halifax Regional Medical Center and later flown to PItt.

Charges were filed against him for felonious breaking and entering, second degree kidnapping, possession of a firearm by felon and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Clark had a criminal history that includes assault, common law robbery and speed to elude arrest.

While in prison he had several infractions including three counts of assault and being involved with gangs or security threat groups.