Man shot teen who interrupted theft in Claremont

Jared Strickland

Jared Strickland

Michelle Bermudez, 59, of Claremont, N.H., was not able to go to work at Walmart on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, because her car window had been broken early Sunday morning in her Claremont, N.H., neighborhood. She said the alleged burglar, Jared Strickland, had only removed pennies from her cupholder.

Michelle Bermudez, 59, of Claremont, N.H., was not able to go to work at Walmart on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, because her car window had been broken early Sunday morning in her Claremont, N.H., neighborhood. She said the alleged burglar, Jared Strickland, had only removed pennies from her cupholder. "I struggle so hard and it is going to be so hard to get that fixed," she said, holding back tears. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Valley News — Jennifer Hauck

A teenager was shot by a 24-year-old man who was stealing from a car in Claremont, N.H., early Sunday. Michelle Bermudez, whose car window was  smashed, has known the teen since he was a baby.

A teenager was shot by a 24-year-old man who was stealing from a car in Claremont, N.H., early Sunday. Michelle Bermudez, whose car window was smashed, has known the teen since he was a baby. "He's a really good awesome kid, he didn't deserve that," Bermudez said. "He was trying to stop a thing that was not right." The suspect, Jared Strickland, has been arrested in connection with the shooting.(Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. valley news — Jennifer Hauck

Linda Tremblay, the executive director of Ready Set Grow, a child care and preschool center in Claremont, N.H., has had troubles with neighbors near the child care center to such a degree the center is looking for a new location. On Sunday night, a teenager was shot when he found Jared Strickland, 24, allegedly breaking into a car on the street. On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, Tremblay said she blames drug traffic from one location on the street. Tremblay said she and her staff carry mace with them.

Linda Tremblay, the executive director of Ready Set Grow, a child care and preschool center in Claremont, N.H., has had troubles with neighbors near the child care center to such a degree the center is looking for a new location. On Sunday night, a teenager was shot when he found Jared Strickland, 24, allegedly breaking into a car on the street. On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, Tremblay said she blames drug traffic from one location on the street. Tremblay said she and her staff carry mace with them. "We're sick and tired of having to watch our back," she said. Tremblay said at least twice a week teachers have had to bring children inside from the playground due to unsafe people near the school. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Jennifer Hauck

Winston Kinney, of Claremont, N.H., lives across the street from where a shooting took place in Claremont early Sunday morning. Kinney said he saw police officers walk up a bank with a number of bags, one which included a gun. On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, Kinney said he has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and he and his partner have never had any problems until about a year ago when people started living in a nearby shack. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Winston Kinney, of Claremont, N.H., lives across the street from where a shooting took place in Claremont early Sunday morning. Kinney said he saw police officers walk up a bank with a number of bags, one which included a gun. On Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, Kinney said he has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and he and his partner have never had any problems until about a year ago when people started living in a nearby shack. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Jennifer Hauck

By PATRICK ADRIAN

Valley News Staff Writer

Published: 01-28-2024 6:29 PM

Modified: 02-01-2024 9:36 AM


CLAREMONT — A 24-year-old man is facing multiple charges after allegedly shooting a teenager who had caught him breaking into vehicles early Sunday.

Jared Strickland, 24, was arraigned in Claremont District Court on Monday on seven felony counts, including first degree assault with a firearm, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, falsifying physical evidence and criminal mischief.

At 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, Claremont Police responded to Front Street, a residential neighborhood near Route 12, for a report of screaming and possible gunshots heard in the area. Officers found a 17-year-old resident standing outside his home at 32 Front St. with a gunshot wound to his arm, according to a police affidavit.

The teenager, whom the police only identified by his initials, B.P., told police that he was leaving for work when he witnessed Strickland rummaging through his mother’s vehicle. The teen told police he confronted Strickland, which led to a physical altercation in the parking lot. Eventually, they both fell down the embankment that abutted the lot.

As they tussled on the embankment, Strickland allegedly pulled out a .22-caliber revolver and fired two shots, one of which struck the teen in his shoulder area, according to the police.

The teen told police that he managed to wrestle the gun from Strickland’s grasp and throw the weapon further down the embankment. The two then returned to the parking lot and separated, according to the affidavit.

The teen was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and police on Sunday said said he was in stable but serious condition.

Michelle Bermudez, 59, who lives in the same apartment building as the teen and his mother, said she has known them for many years.

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“He’s a really good kid,” Bermudez said in an interview on Monday. “He didn’t deserve that.”

Police allege Strickland broke into several vehicles in the neighborhood the morning of the shooting, including Bermudez’s Toyota Corolla, which had its driver-side window shattered.

“That made me so angry,” Bermudez said. “I had to take a day off work because I can’t drive it. It seems like I’m just stuck right now.”

Police were able to identify Strickland with the help of security camera footage from neighboring properties on Royce Street, which intersects Front Street across from the lot where the altercation occurred.

Angie Christiansen, a Royce Street resident, said that all their cars had been broken into — including her own, her boyfriend’s and her mother’s.

Christiansen, whose cameras allegedly caught footage of crime, said the perpetrator appeared to have broken into her mother’s car just minutes before her mother — who works an early shift at Walmart — left the house to walk her dog.

“I was terrified, just to know that he was out there at the time,” Christiansen said in an interview.

The surveillance footage, along with a physical description, helped investigators identify Strickland, who is also a suspect in other motor vehicle thefts, police said.

A search of Strickland’s apartment on 52 Central Street uncovered clothing and apparel matching the description in the surveillance video, including shoes and a black jacket that was covered with debris.

The police also found two firearms that had been reported stolen on Saturday from a vehicle on West Terrace Street, including a .38 Special and a .357 Magnum. The .22 Strickland is accused of using to shoot the teen and which police recovered from the embankment, was also reported stolen from that vehicle.

Strickland also had physical injuries, including a black eye and bruises and abrasions on his hand, that were consistent with the physical altercation described by the teen.

Strickland also faces felony charges for the alleged theft of a vehicle in December that caused damage totaling almost $14,000. The vehicle, a 2017 Lincoln, was found abandoned by the police and has since been returned to the owner. Strickland also had been free on bail while awaiting a probable cause hearing on four felony drug charges.

Strickland is currently being held in Sullivan County jail. Judge Justin S. Hersh denied his request for bail at Monday’s arraignment.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at padrian@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.