NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Wednesday, charging Jaremy Smith with the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare.
The indictment charges Smith, 33, of South Carolina, with carjacking resulting in death, causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle.
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Smith is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on April 18. He is accused of killing Hare in March on I-40 west of Tucumcari. Last week, A federal judge agreed to keep Smith in custody due to his lengthy criminal history of violence.
If convicted of the current charges, Smith faces a mandatory life sentence or death for the kidnapping resulting in death charge, and any number of years up to life or death for the carjacking and discharge of a firearm offenses.
Smith is also facing charges in the death of a paramedic in South Carolina. Police said Smith was found with the paramedic’s car in New Mexico when the ambush of Officer Hare happened.
