- Jaremy Smith, 33, allegedly killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare
- Hare stopped to help Smith fix a flat tire on a stolen car whose owner had also been murdered
- The white BMW Smith was owned by murdered South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore
Police have arrested the wanted fugitive for killing an officer who stopped to help him fix the tire of a stolen car – a vehicle whose owner was murdered.
Jaremy Smith, 33, allegedly shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Friday when the officer stopped to help him fix a flat tire on a white BMW.
Smith pulled his gun “without warning” and shot Hare, then pushed him into the passenger seat of his own cruiser and drove away in the patrol car, state police said.
Investigators determined that the white BMW Smith was driving belonged to slain South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore.
New Mexico State Police said Sunday morning, “Jaremy Smith has been captured following a foot chase and officer-involved shooting involving the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.”
Police have arrested 33-year-old Jaremy Smith, who is wanted for killing an officer who stopped to help him fix the tire of a stolen car whose owner was found dead
Police said Smith allegedly shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare (pictured) on Friday
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said the arrest occurred in the area of Unser and Anderson Hill and no officers were injured.
Officers found Smith walking on Unser Blvd. after a store clerk at Murphy’s Gas Station called police when they saw someone matching Smith’s description.
“A foot chase ensued and shots were fired, striking Smith, who was taken into custody without further incident,” the sheriff’s department said.
“Smith was transported to an area hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.”
Smith is considered a person of interest in Machado-Fore’s death. She was reported missing to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina on Thursday and her body was found Friday near the South Carolina-North Carolina border. KOOT.
‘Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is meaningless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss,” said Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace.
“My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice.”
Around 5 a.m. Friday, Hare was sent to Interstate 40, near mile marker 318, to assist Smith, who was trying to wave off other motorists with his flat tire.
Hare, a father of two young children, parked behind Smith’s car and the suspect walked up to Hare’s passenger side window.
State police said, “A brief conversation ensued about fixing his tire when, without warning, Smith pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare.”
Smith walked to the driver’s side of the patrol car, shot Hare again, then pushed him into the passenger seat and drove away.
Hare’s duress signal began to sound and an assisting officer saw Hare’s patrol car driving along the front of Interstate 40.
Investigators determine the white BMW Smith was driving belonged to murdered South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado Fore (pictured)
The assisting officer pursued Hare’s car and discovered it crashed on the frontage road near mile marker 304 on Interstate 40.
Hare was found on the front road to Interstate 40 around mile marker 312 and was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said Saturday that Smith has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina and has faced charges ranging from armed robbery, taking hostages and jail riots, to auto theft before the incident of Friday.
“On a cold, dark and windy morning, he provided assistance to a person he believed was in need,” Weisler said.
“That person killed him in cold blood. Officer Hare’s last words on this earth were to help a man who was about to kill him.”