Franklin Teen Arrested On Burglary, Gun Theft Charges In Concord

CONCORD, NH — A Franklin teen is facing several felony charges after a burglary in Penacook involving the theft of rifles from an apartment last year with an underage accomplice, according to police.

On Aug. 9, 2020, police were sent to an apartment on Village Street in Penacook for a report of a burglary. During the incident, two guns were stolen, according to police. The reporting detective spoke to two men about guns stolen — a Sig Sauer M400 Tread and a Century Arms WASR, both semi-automatic rifles. The men told the detective they had a suspect: Dominick Christopher Mekkelsen, 18, of Cedar Court in Franklin.

One of the victims told the detective he had received a Snapchat communication from Mekkelsen “which showed Mekkelsen in a vehicle with both of the stolen guns,” the detective wrote. The officer watched as one of the victims communicated with Mekkelsen, according to an affidavit, and “during the course of the communications between Mekkelsen and (a victim), Mekkelsen stated he could get the guns back to (the victim).”

The next day, the detective received a video and accused Mekkelsen of admitting to the burglary and theft during the conversation, a report stated.

“Mekkelsen explained that his motive for taking the guns was to potentially use them in a robbery,” the detective wrote.

Later that day, detectives went to speak with Mekkelsen and accused him of admitting to the burglary and robbery. He said he had an accomplice but would not identify the person, the detective stated.

A few days later, the detective obtained surveillance footage from a Penacook business near the burglary location. The detective accused Mekkelsen of driving a vehicle and pulling into a parking area near the apartment. He was then seen exiting a vehicle with a Black girl, according to the report. Minutes later, “Mekkelsen returned to the camera view carrying one of the guns.” A short time later, the girl could be seen carrying another gun, the report stated. The pair can be seen in the video driving away from the area, the detective wrote.

After speaking with “several individuals who denied involvement in the burglary,” the detective spoke to another man who was able to identify the girl in the video. The detective interviewed a family member of the girl who also identified her. Later, the detective spoke to the girl and she “admitted to taking the second gun,” explaining “that she took one gun and Mekkelsen took the other gun.”

A warrant was issued for Mekkelsen’s arrest on April 20 and he was charged a couple of days later with burglary and firearm theft charges, both felonies.

Mekkelsen had a disposition hearing in Merrimack County Superior Court on June 16 and at that time, a third charge, felony witness tampering, was added to his docket. He is due back in court for a dispositional conference on Sept. 21.

Arrest information about the girl was unavailable for publication due to her being under 18.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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