Jeremy Smith Obituary, Death – An “armed and dangerous” suspect is considered to be the person responsible for the fatal shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer on a highway close to the small community of Tucumcari on Friday. The manhunt for the suspect continues. Officer Justin Hare, 35, responded to a complaint regarding a driver of a white BMW with a flat tire who had been gesturing for help from other traffic on Interstate 40 near milepost 318 at approximately 5 a.m. when he was shot without warning, according to New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler. Hare was shot without any prior notice.
Weisler stated in a video that was published late on Friday that the suspect, who has been identified as Jaremy Smith, 32 years old, from Marion, South Carolina, approached the window on the passenger side of Hare’s patrol vehicle. A brief discussion followed, during which Officer Hare offered to provide the suspect with transportation to town in exchange for the suspect’s tire being repaired. Following that, without any prior notice, the suspect pulled out a pistol and shot Officer Hare, according to Weisler. According to Weisler, the assailant then moved to the driver’s side of the vehicle and fired another shot at Hare. After that, he pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in the police vehicle, which was later discovered to have been abandoned when it was discovered.
According to Weisler, who was speaking at a news conference on Saturday, another state police officer was dispatched to Hare after calls from dispatch went unanswered. This officer was instructed to investigate what had occurred. The duress signal that Hare had been using began to sound at that moment. To activate the duress signal, an officer must press a button either within a patrol vehicle or on the handheld radio that is carried by the officer. When the police spotted that Hare’s vehicle was being driven at a fast speed alongside Interstate 40, he made an effort to catch up to it. When the police discovered the vehicle, it had been thrown off the side of the road and was currently devoid of any passengers.
According to Weisler, Smith had already escaped on foot. After some time, Hare was discovered on Interstate 40 close to milepost 312. He was taken to a nearby hospital, but he did not survive his stay there. On the basis of allegations including first-degree murder, armed robbery, firing at or from a vehicle, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a handgun, unlawful taking of a vehicle, and criminal damage to property, the New Mexico State Police issued a warrant for Smith’s arrest. Smith is a resident of Marion, South Carolina. No arrests have been reported at this time.
Photos of the culprit, who was last seen walking on the Interstate 40 Frontage Road at milepost 304 between Montoya and Newkirk, were distributed by the authorities, during which they issued a warning to the public to avoid approaching him and instead immediately dial 911. According to state police, the last time anyone saw him, he was dressed in a brown sweatshirt and jacket. According to Weisler, Smith has a “very extensive criminal history” the majority of which is located in South Carolina. This history includes armed robbery, burglary, and the taking of hostages. Smith has also spent some time in Albuquerque.
The BMW Smith was driving belonged to a missing South Carolina woman, Phenesia Machado-Fore, who was found dead Friday, Weisler said. The woman was a paramedic in Marion County. Smith is a person of interest in Machado-Fore’s murder, according to police. “Officer Hare died serving his state and his community,” Weisler said tearfully. “On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need. That person killed him in cold blood.” As Hare’s body was taken to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator for examination, officers from across the region lined roadways along the route in a show of respect, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the news left her heartbroken, and offered her condolences to his family and friends. Lt. Gov. Howie Morales said on X, “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible loss.” Anyone with information or background on the suspect was asked to call state police. “Jeramy Smith, we are coming for you,” Weisler, the state police chief, said. “I implore you to turn yourself in and surrender peacefully. There’s been enough death and despair.” Hare grew up in Logan and Moriarty in New Mexico, Weisler said, and graduated from the state police recruit school in 2018. He is survived by his parents, a girlfriend, and two young children. Hare is the third officer New Mexico State Police has lost to violent crime in almost nine months, Weisler said.
