Manchester Man Admits to Five Armed Robberies

CONCORD, NH – Jonathan McKnight, 39, of Manchester, has confessed to a brazen string of robberies across Manchester and Goffstown, New Hampshire. McKnight pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to interference with commerce by threats and violence, admitting to holding up five different establishments.

The crime spree began on March 25, 2020, with a Manchester convenience store hit. McKnight, according to court documents, passed a threatening note to the clerk, claiming to be armed with a gun and demanding cash. Just three days later, on March 28th, he struck again at another Manchester convenience store, using a similar note and even simulating a weapon by gesturing towards his waistband and lifting his sweatshirt.

Manchester Police quickly zeroed in on McKnight after reviewing store surveillance footage. A post-arrest interview on March 30th yielded a confession to both initial robberies. McKnight admitted to *claiming* to have a firearm during the incidents, but stated he did not actually possess one. This didn’t lessen the terror he inflicted on store clerks.

The robberies didn’t stop there. On July 7, 2020, McKnight targeted another Manchester store, making off with approximately $100-$150, primarily in $1.00 bills. Officers responding to the scene found McKnight, wearing the same clothing as the robber, with around $60 – including a stack of those dollar bills – in his possession. He then extended his reach to Goffstown, committing two more robberies on March 7th and March 10th, 2021.

“Robberies are violent crimes that can cause harm to victims and spread fear in communities,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. “To protect the public from violent crime, we are working closely with all our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute criminals like Mr. McKnight who threaten the community. Thanks to these joint efforts, McKnight’s robbery spree has been stopped and he has been held accountable for his unlawful actions.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta added, “Today Jonathan McKnight confessed to a string of convenience store robberies in which he threatened a firearm and terrorized innocent bystanders just to get his hands on some quick cash. Had he not been identified and arrested by investigators, there’s a good chance he’d still be at it.” McKnight is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, 2021. The investigation was a joint effort by the Manchester Police Department, Goffstown Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Walsh is prosecuting the case.

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