Arrest Imminent In 2nd Homeless Camp BB Gun Shooting: Updates On Concord Criminal Cases

CONCORD, NH — Concord police will soon be arresting a suspect in a second BB gun shooting at a homeless camp in recent weeks.

Police were sent to Healy Park along the Merrimack River on April 18 for a report of a shooting. A homeless camper was accused of shooting another person with a BB gun. The BB gun was black and looked like a Glock 9 mm. Police investigated the incident, identified a suspect, and searched the area. The suspect was later found near the Burger King on Hall Street.

Deputy Chief John Thomas of the Concord Police Department said the case was still an open investigation but added an arrest was imminent.

This was the second time in about a month that a person was shot with a BB gun at the camp. In mid-March, another man was shot in the chest, requiring emergency medical attention and surgery. Ten days later, Kaitlin Cook was arrested on first-degree and second-degree assault with a deadly weapon charges and a reckless conduct-deadly weapon charge, all felonies.

Gun Found At NH DOE Office

During the course of the investigation of the second homeless camp BB gun shooting, a real gun was reportedly found on the grounds of the New Hampshire Department of Education building on Hall Street.

Thomas confirmed there is an investigation underway about the gun, which was authentic, not a BB gun, and not connected to the homeless camp case.

“That was actually a real gun that somebody dropped in the parking lot,” he said.

The gun was reportedly found on Thursday. The case was also an open investigation.

Suspect Eyed In Shell Robbery

Thomas confirmed police have identified a possible suspect in the Gully Hill Shell gas station robbery and kidnapping incident.

On April 12, a statewide BOLO (be-on-the-lookout) call was issued for a black 2000 Honda CR-V that a man from Manchester owned. The alert stated Concord police had a search warrant for the vehicle and were attempting to find it. The BOLO stated the vehicle was connected to a Concord gas station robbery and kidnapping incident.

“Yes,” Thomas said when asked if a potential suspect had been identified.

Thomas also confirmed the vehicle had been located, no arrest had been made, and the incident was still under investigation.

10 Cars Keyed At NH GOP Convention

According to police, 10 vehicles have been identified as having been keyed during the New Hampshire GOP convention at Concord High School on April 13.

The cars, according to Thomas, were parked on Westbourne Street and the school parking lot.

“Those are the ones that we know of, right now,” Thomas said.

It is unknown if there are security cameras at the school parking lot. Thomas said investigators had canvassed the neighborhood for any available surveillance footage and were finishing their reports.

Chris Ager, the chairman of the New Hampshire GOP, told Patch members were “thankful for the attention paid to this issue by the Concord Police Department” and requested anyone who may have witnessed the incidents to contact investigators.

“This vandalism is disturbing,” he said, “and reflect neither the values of Concord nor the School District.”

Open Carry At CHS

Both Thomas and Kathleen Murphy, the SAU 8 school superintendent, confirmed there was an issue with an attendee at the NH GOP convention openly carrying a gun.

Even though the convention was held on a Saturday, there was an event with children in a different part of the school building. Organizers asked the man to secure the gun at another location, and he agreed. During the event, an announcement was made requesting anyone carrying weapons to secure them in their vehicles or outside the school.

“They all cooperated,” Thomas said.

Murphy said there was a conflict between state law, which allows weapons, and federal law, which does not. The district, she said, had “no ability to enforce” the laws either way.

“It’s one of those issues that is not clear,” she said. “It’s just isn’t clear. They were very good — they just complied. But we have to determine how we are going to handle that in the future.”

Alcohol, drugs, and weapons were not allowed on school grounds, she added, as normal school policy.

Murphy said the NH GOP paid $1,975 to use the Christa McAuliffe auditorium, the Main Street corridor, the sound system, and custodial fees.

Gun Also Found At Construction Site

On April 12, construction workers at the Fisherville Road-Tanager Circle project found a gun while digging at the property.

Thomas confirmed a gun was found, but no information was available at post time.

Eduardo Leovigildo Valdivia Rojas of Naples, Florida, was arrested on March 31. Credit: Concord Police Department

What Was Up With That Easter Sunday I-393 Truck Stop?

Several Concord NH Patch readers pinged us on Easter Sunday wondering why there were several Concord police and state troopers at a truck stopped on Interstate 393.

Limited information is available about the incident since a judge has sealed the court documents.

Thomas said the incident started on Clinton Street after police dispatch received reports of a tractor-trailer truck swerving from the east to the westbound lane into oncoming traffic. He said the trucker, identified later as Eduardo Leovigildo Valdivia Rojas, nearly struck somewhere between 15 and 20 vehicles. Before reaching the area of the Interstate 89 and Exit 2 interchange, Rojas was accused of veering out of his lane, striking a car, and fleeing the scene of a crash. Police caught up to him on I-393.

Rojas, 63, of Naples, Florida, was arrested on reckless conduct-deadly weapon, conduct after an accident, and reckless operation charges, as well as a yellow-solid line violation.

Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.