In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a man from South Carolina has been sentenced to life imprisonment for fatally shooting a state police officer during what began as a routine stop for assistance. The sentencing is a result of a plea agreement that Jaremy Smith struck with federal prosecutors earlier this year. Smith admitted guilt to several charges, including causing death through carjacking, using and possessing a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen weapon while being a prohibited possessor.
In addition to his federal charges, Smith is also facing legal challenges in South Carolina, where he is accused of carjacking and murdering a woman before making a cross-country drive with her vehicle. Investigations revealed that Smith used a weapon stolen from the woman’s roommate to shoot the officer.
Although former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland chose not to seek the death penalty for Smith at the federal level, it remains a possibility in the concurrent state case in South Carolina, according to federal prosecutors.
The incident that led to Officer Justin Hare’s death took place on March 15, 2024, before dawn, along Interstate 40 near Tucumcari. Following the shooting, a manhunt for Smith was launched, which concluded in Albuquerque when a tip from a gas station employee led to his capture two days later.
Ryan Ellison, the newly appointed U.S. attorney for the district of New Mexico, highlighted the destructive impact of Smith’s actions across multiple states. “Officer Justin Hare, a hero who intervened to help someone in distress, ultimately sacrificed his own life,” Ellison stated. “We are dedicated to honoring his memory by ensuring Jaremy Smith never poses a threat to others again.”
The criminal complaint details that Officer Hare was assigned to aid someone in a white BMW and parked behind the vehicle. Smith then approached the officer’s car on the passenger side to discuss a flat tire. Hare offered to give Smith a lift to the nearest town, as no repair shops were open at the time.
Moments later, Smith shot Officer Hare, then moved to the driver’s side to fire again once traffic cleared, as shown in dashcam footage released during the investigation. After the shooting, Smith pushed Hare to the passenger side and drove off with the officer’s car. Records from a body-worn camera captured the officer struggling to breathe, and a distress signal was broadcast over his radio, signaling other officers.
Despite being located about an hour later, Officer Hare, a 35-year-old father who had served with the state police since 2018, succumbed to his injuries. State Police discovered that the BMW in question had been reported missing in South Carolina and belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a 52-year-old paramedic who was also a murder victim. Her body was discovered in a nearby county, dressed in pajamas and slippers, with noticeable signs of restraint on her wrists.
Authorities were able to trace the movements of Smith and Machado-Fore using cellphone and GPS data from the stolen car. Smith’s criminal past revealed a history of offenses in South Carolina, where he had served prison time for attempted armed robbery and hostage-taking before being paroled in late 2023. Records indicated that during his incarceration, Smith committed multiple violations, including weapon possession and assaults on employees and fellow inmates.