The suspect in Thursday’s First Citizens bank robbery died Saturday, Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton said.

Hinton said an autopsy on Nicholas Pierre Clark, 28, was performed Sunday. While he didn’t have the official results, Hinton said the autopsy confirmed Clark died from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head as he holed up in a house at 1308 Patsy Albritton Street.

Meanwhile, Hinton said police are investigating a phone call from the Tenth Street launderette which detectives believe was a diversion to take officers away from the house Clark broke into following the bank robbery.

Someone called and told dispatchers their vehicle was stolen by a man wearing a wig. The description of the man was the same as the bank robber’s. “We determined it was a false call, an attempt to draw officers away from the house.”

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.