South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Killing of New Mexico Police Officer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A South Carolina man, Jaremy Smith, pleaded guilty on Friday to charges of carjacking and the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare.
The plea marks a significant development in the case that was initially set for trial later this year.
Smith’s guilty plea, entered in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, is part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.
Under this deal, he will receive a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. A date for sentencing has yet to be scheduled.
The courtroom was filled with state police officers, federal law enforcement officials, and the parents of Officer Hare, who expressed relief at the plea.
“It’s been 10 long months to get to this point,” said Jim Hare, the officer’s father. “I’m glad this sorry excuse of a human being owned up to what he did.”
Smith had previously pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping resulting in a death, carjacking resulting in a death, using a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen firearm.
A charge related to driving a stolen vehicle across state lines was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Smith is also facing charges in South Carolina for the murder of a paramedic, Phonesia Machado-Fore, whose stolen car was used in the New Mexico incident.
The Fatal Incident
The tragic event occurred before dawn on March 15, 2024, along Interstate 40 near Tucumcari, New Mexico. Officer Hare was dispatched to assist a motorist stranded with a flat tire.
Dashcam footage revealed that after Hare parked his patrol car behind the motorist’s white BMW, Smith approached and engaged in conversation. Hare offered Smith a ride to a nearby town since no repair shops were open. Moments later, Smith shot Hare, moved to the driver’s side, and shot him again after waiting for traffic to pass.
Smith then forced Hare into the passenger seat, commandeered the police vehicle, and fled. Other officers responded when a duress signal was triggered on Hare’s radio.
Hare was later found alive but fatally wounded along a frontage road. The 35-year-old officer, a father and dedicated public servant, had been with the state police since 2018.
Broader Implications
New Mexico Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie emphasized the need for stricter laws to hold violent offenders accountable. He lamented that New Mexico’s statutes fall short compared to federal punishments for crimes like killing a police officer.
“There’s a clear need for better public safety measures,” Bowie stated, noting the growing public concern about violent crime.
The U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, Alexander Uballez, confirmed that while the federal government opted against pursuing the death penalty, it remains a possibility in Smith’s pending South Carolina case.
As the community continues to mourn Officer Hare’s death, law enforcement officials have vowed to support his family through the sentencing process, ensuring justice is fully served.
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