Police have captured the fugitive wanted for killing an officer who stopped to help him fix the tire of stolen car – a vehicle whose owner was murdered.
Jaremy Smith, 33, allegedly shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Friday when the officer pulled over to help him fix a flat tire on a white BMW.
Smith pulled out his gun ‘without warning’ and shot at Hare, then pushed him into the passenger seat of his own cruiser and drove off in the patrol car, according to state police.
Investigators determined the white BMW Smith was driving belonged to murdered paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore in South Carolina.
New Mexico State Police said Sunday morning, ‘Jaremy Smith has been captured after a foot pursuit and officer-involved shooting involving the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.’
Police have captured Jaremy Smith, 33, who is wanted for killing an officer who stop to help him fix the tire of stolen car whose owner was found dead
Police said Smith allegedly shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare (pictured) on Friday
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said the arrest took place in the area of Unser and Anderson Hill and no deputies were injured.
Deputies found Smith walking on Unser Blvd. after a store clerk from Murphy’s Gas Station called police when they spotted someone who matched Smith’s description.
‘A foot pursuit ensued, and shots were fired, striking Smith who was taken into custody without further incident,’ said the sheriff’s department.
‘Smith was transported to an area hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.’
Smith is considered a person of interest in Machado-Fore’s death. She was reported missing to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina on Thursday and her body was found on Friday near the South Carolina and North Carolina border, reported KOAT.
‘Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is senseless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss,’ said Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace.
‘My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice.’
Around 5 a.m. on Friday, Hare was dispatched to Interstate 40, near milepost 318, to assist Smith, who was attempting to wave down other motorists, with his flat tire.
Hare, a father of two young children, parked behind Smith’s car and the suspect walked up to Hare’s passenger side window.
State police said, ‘A short conversation ensued about repairing his tire when, without warning, Smith pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare.’
Smith walked to the driver’s side of the patrol car, shot Hare again and then pushed him to the passenger’s seat and drove off.
Hare’s duress signal began to go off and an assisting officer saw Hare’s patrol car speeding down the frontage road of Interstate 40.
Investigators determine the white BMW Smith was driving belonged to murdered paramedic Phonesia Machado Fore (pictured) in South Carolina
The assisting officer chased after Hare’s car and found it crashed on the frontage road near milepost 304 on Interstate 40.
Hare was found on the frontage road to Interstate 40 around milepost 312 and was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said on Saturday that Smith has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina and had faced charges ranging from armed robbery, taking hostages and rioting in jail, as well as auto theft before Friday’s incident.
‘On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need,’ Weisler said,
‘That person killed him in cold blood. The last words Officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him.’