Police Announce Arrest in Armed Robbery Series

Published on March 24, 2026

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is announcing the arrest of a suspect in a series of armed robberies targeting Arlington County businesses, their employees and customers. Carlos Lopez Sparks, 19, of Centreville, VA is charged with Robbery (x8), Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony (x8) and Wearing a Mask to Conceal Identity (x4). He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

The suspect’s 20 criminal charges stem from the following incidents:

• At approximately 7:56 p.m. on February 24, police were dispatched to the 4100 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive for the report of an armed robbery. The masked suspect entered the business, displayed a firearm, demanded the employee open the cash register and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the business and the employee. The suspect then directed his attention towards a customer and demanded cash while displaying the firearm. When the customer told the suspect they did not have cash, the suspect fled the scene.
• On February 24, following the above-mentioned incident, the masked suspect entered a neighboring business in the 4100 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive, displayed a firearm and demanded the employee open the cash register. The suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and fled the scene.
• At approximately 8:19 p.m. on February 25, police were dispatched to the 300 block of N. Glebe Road for the report of a suspicious person. The masked suspect entered the business, approached two employees, threatened them with a firearm and demanded cash. The employees ran from the scene and the suspect fled on foot without cash.
• On February 25, following the above-mentioned incident, the masked suspect entered a neighboring business in the 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive, displayed a firearm and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. The suspect then directed his attention towards two customers and demanded cash while displaying the firearm. After determining the customers did not have cash, the suspect fled the scene.

During the course of the investigation, detectives recovered information linking the cases together and subsequently identified the suspect. He was taken into custody at his home on the morning of March 20.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fairfax County Police Department and the Herndon Police Department provided assistance in this case.

This remains an active investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s tip line at 703-228-4180 or ACPDTipline@arlingtonva.us. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Booking photograph of Carlos Lopez Sparks