A South Carolina man, Jaremy Smith, has pleaded guilty to the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. The guilty plea comes as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors, signaling a significant turn in a case that was set for trial later this year. Smith, 19, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing will take place at a later date.
The hearing, held Friday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, was attended by dozens of state police officers, as well as top state and federal law enforcement officials. Also present were the grieving parents of Officer Justin Hare.
“I just want to say that I’m glad this sorry excuse of a human being owned up to what he did. It’s been 10 long months to get to this point,” said Jim Hare, the father of the slain officer.
In 2023, Smith had previously pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, firearm use during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen firearm. As part of the agreement, the charge of driving a stolen vehicle across state lines was dropped. In addition to these charges, Smith is also facing charges in South Carolina, linked to the killing of paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, whose stolen vehicle was involved in Officer Hare’s death.
After the hearing, New Mexico Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie expressed the ongoing support of his department and state police officers for Officer Hare’s family. He also criticized the state’s statutes, stating they were inadequate in comparison to federal punishments for violent crimes such as the murder of a police officer.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been hosting community meetings to address public safety concerns. Secretary Bowie confirmed that public safety will be a priority in the upcoming legislative session.
The tragic shooting occurred before dawn on March 15, 2024, on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari, New Mexico. Officer Hare had stopped to assist a motorist in a white BMW. Upon parking behind the BMW, he began conversing with Smith, who was allegedly dealing with a flat tire. The officer offered Smith a ride to a nearby town, but moments later, Smith shot him twice—once on the passenger side and again after moving to the driver’s side, as seen in dashcam footage released during the investigation.
Smith then forced Officer Hare into the passenger seat and fled the scene, triggering a duress signal on the officer’s radio. A search for Smith ensued, culminating in his capture two days later in Albuquerque. Officer Hare, critically injured, was found about an hour later on the side of a road.
The investigation later revealed that the BMW had been reported stolen from South Carolina and belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a 52-year-old paramedic from Marion County, South Carolina. Her body was discovered near Lake View, South Carolina.
While U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland decided against seeking the death penalty for Smith, the possibility remains for the state case in South Carolina, according to Alexander M.M. Uballez, the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico.
