ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Jaremy Smith was sentenced Monday in federal court for his crimes in New Mexico after taking a plea deal earlier this year. Smith was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. He had pleaded guilty to federal charges including kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking for killing New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare in March 2024.
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Smith shot Officer Hare on the side of Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari. The officer was dispatched to help a motorist with a flat tire. When he pulled on the side of the interstate and parked behind the car, Smith went up to the officer’s passenger side window and had a brief conversation about the flat tire before he shot the officer, according to court documents and NMSP. Police said Smith walked over to the driver’s side and shot Hare again before he got into the officer’s vehicle. Smith then pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in the officer’s patrol car.
Smith was a fugitive from South Carolina, wanted for the kidnapping and murder of 52-year-old paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore. He was in her car when he got the flat tire in New Mexico. Smith is still facing charges for Machado-Fore’s death in South Carolina.
