Nineteen-year-old Nathanial Adam Ayres of Nelsonia was fatally shot on August 12, 2016, near the intersection of Nocks Landing Road and Greta Road in the Atlantic area of Accomack County, Virginia. Ayres had driven his white Dodge pickup to meet Zachary Isaiah Townsend to buy marijuana; two friends, Noah Mackey and Jeremiah Thompson, were in the back seat. Townsend, 17 at the time, climbed into the front passenger seat and displayed a bag he said contained marijuana. Ayres questioned whether the substance was actually spice, an argument followed, and Townsend produced a black revolver and demanded money. After Ayres pushed the hand holding the gun away, Townsend shot him.

Ayres tried to flee around the front of the truck; Townsend pursued and shot him again. An autopsy found six close-range gunshot wounds to the head, neck and torso. The revolver was not recovered. An Accomack County jury found Townsend guilty of second-degree murder, robbery and two firearm offenses in September 2017; because he was a juvenile when the crime occurred, a judge later imposed a 48-year prison sentence in July of the following year.

Anyone who knew Nathanial or who has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.