Justin Hare : “Fatal New Mexico Police Shooting Suspect Captured”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. New Mexico State police officer shooting suspect
2. Fatal shooting suspect captured in New Mexico

A suspect in the fatal shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer was apprehended in Albuquerque following a tip from a gas station clerk. Jaremy Smith, 33, was captured after a foot pursuit and an officer-involved shooting. Smith, with a history of armed robbery and other crimes, shot Officer Justin Hare and fled the scene. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into Smith’s movements since the shooting. The suspect’s vehicle belonged to a Marion County paramedic who was found dead. Smith’s arrest comes after a two-day manhunt, bringing closure to a tragic incident that shook the community.

A suspect in the fatal shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer last week was apprehended on Sunday after a gas station clerk in Albuquerque tipped off law enforcement officers, authorities confirmed.

Jaremy Smith, a 33-year-old from Marion, South Carolina, was captured following a two-day manhunt that ended in an officer-involved shooting with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff John Allen stated that Smith was detained after a clerk at a gas station in southwestern Albuquerque reported seeing a man matching Smith’s description.

Deputies from the sheriff’s office located Smith walking and established a perimeter in a nearby neighborhood. A foot pursuit ensued, during which Smith was wounded by gunfire as deputies attempted to apprehend him. He was then taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.

The arrest of Smith comes in the aftermath of the tragic shooting of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, aged 35. Hare had been dispatched to assist Smith on Friday morning along Interstate 40 when Smith opened fire on him and fled the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

State Police Chief Troy Weisler stated that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities currently tracing Smith’s movements since the shooting on Friday. “Everything is really preliminary right now on the investigation, so we’re not going to get into any of the details,” Weisler remarked.

### Shooting of New Mexico State Police officer

On Friday at approximately 5:00 a.m. local time, Hare responded to a call for assistance from a driver with a flat tire on Interstate 40, as per state police reports. The driver, later identified as Smith, was driving a white BMW and attempting to flag down other motorists for help.

According to a statement released by state police, Hare parked behind the BMW, and Smith exited the vehicle and approached the patrol car from the passenger side. A brief conversation ensued about fixing the flat tire, after which Smith unexpectedly pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare.

Subsequently, Smith walked to the driver’s side of the patrol car, shot Hare again, and pushed him into the passenger seat before driving away in the patrol vehicle. Another officer was dispatched to assist Hare after he failed to respond to dispatch calls. The responding officer spotted Hare’s vehicle speeding west on I-40 and attempted to catch up at the next exit, according to state police.

After catching up with Hare’s vehicle, the responding officer witnessed a crash. Smith was believed to have fled on foot, while Hare was discovered nearby and transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

### Authorities: Suspect had ‘extensive criminal history’

New Mexico State Police later discovered that the white BMW belonged to a South Carolina woman who had been reported missing by her family. Phonesia Machado-Fore, a 52-year-old Marion County paramedic, was found deceased outside of Lake View in neighboring Dillon County.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office indicated that federal, state, and local authorities collaborated nationwide to identify the driver and locate Machado-Fore. During the investigation, law enforcement traced information to a property in Dillon County where Machado-Fore was eventually found.

Prior to his arrest, state police confirmed that Smith had an “extensive criminal history” in South Carolina, including charges of armed robbery, auto theft, and evading officers, among other offenses.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Mexico Police officer’s death: Suspect arrested in fatal shooting.