ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A man from South Carolina admitted guilt on Friday for the murder of a New Mexico state police officer who had stopped to assist him, a significant development as the case was gearing up for trial later this year.
Jaremy Smith made his plea during a court session in Albuquerque, as part of a deal arranged with federal prosecutors. As a result, Smith will face a life sentence in prison with no chance of parole. A date for sentencing has not yet been determined.
The courtroom was filled with a large number of state police officers during the proceedings, and they later convened outside the building. Also present were high-ranking officials from state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the parents of the late officer.
“I am just relieved that this sorry excuse for a human recognized the gravity of his actions. It’s been a long ten months to reach this conclusion,” expressed Jim Hare, the father of State Police Officer Justin Hare.
Previously, Smith had pled not guilty to multiple charges including kidnapping resulting in a death, carjacking resulting in a death, using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a stolen firearm. As part of the plea agreement, one charge—related to operating a stolen vehicle across state lines—was dropped.
In addition, Smith is facing charges in South Carolina for the killing of a paramedic whose stolen vehicle was tied to the officer’s death in New Mexico.
Following the court hearing, New Mexico Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie stated that his department and the state police would continue to support Officer Hare’s family throughout the upcoming sentencing stages. He also expressed concerns regarding New Mexico’s laws, noting they do not match the severity of federal legislation concerning violent crimes like the killing of a police officer. He emphasized the need for state leaders to take more action to hold repeat offenders responsible.
Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has recently organized community forums in anticipation of the legislative session. Secretary Bowie remarked that these discussions highlighted a widespread perception of insecurity in communities.
“I think every community is tired of the situation,” Bowie noted, indicating that public safety will be a primary focus in the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Tuesday.
Officer Justin Hare was shot early in the morning on March 15, 2024, along Interstate 40 near Tucumcari. Following the incident, a search ensued for Smith, who was wounded and was apprehended two days later in Albuquerque, thanks to a tip-off from a gas station clerk.
According to documents filed with the court, Officer Hare had been sent to assist a driver in a white BMW. After parking behind the vehicle, Smith approached Hare’s patrol car on the passenger side, and they began discussing a flat tire. The officer offered to drive Smith to a nearby town since no repair shops were open at such an early hour.
Shortly thereafter, Smith shot Officer Hare, then shifted to the driver’s side to shoot him again once oncoming traffic had cleared, as illustrated by dash camera footage released in the investigation.
Reportedly, after injuring the officer, Smith pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away. A distress signal from the officer’s radio was activated, prompting a response from other officers.
Approximately an hour later, the officer was discovered alive but critically wounded on a frontage road. Officer Hare, a 35-year-old father, had been serving with the state police since 2018.
Subsequently, authorities learned that the BMW had been stolen in South Carolina and belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a 52-year-old Marion County paramedic who had been murdered. Her body was found near Lake View in Dillon County.
While U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has chosen not to pursue the death penalty against Smith, that option remains viable in the forthcoming state case in South Carolina, as indicated by Alexander M.M. Uballez, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico.
