ALBUQUERQUE –
On March 13th, 2024, New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare was brutally murdered by convicted felony Jaremy Smith, of South Carolina. The killing of Officer Hare set off a massive multi-state manhunt for Smith. Smith was eventually captured by BCSO after hiding like a coward in Albuquerque, N.M. Smith faced federal and state charges for the death of Officer Hare.
On January 17th, 2025, a sea of grey and black New Mexico State uniforms packed the courtroom of U.S. District Judge James Browning for the change of plea hearing for cop and paramedic killer Jaremy Smith. The State Police officers were there to support Officer Hare’s family as Smith sat in the courtroom.
Smith was heavily shackled with a yellow jump suit with “NEW MEXICO CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT” written on the back. Smith pleaded guilty today to multiple federal charges in a plea agreement that will result in a federal sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
The courtroom was filled with somberness as District Judge James Browning, the federal attorneys and Smith’s defense attorneys spoke at the plea motion. Smith was asked to raise his right hand to swear into the court. He only could raise it to his hip level due to the heavy shackles.
During the hearing, he could be seen smiling and laughing with his attorneys. When Smith’s was asked to answer questions, his answers were smug with a “Yes, sir,” to Judge Browning. As the gravity of spending his entire life in federal prison hit, his tone turned quieter, and he mumbled, “Yes, sir.“
Parents Terry and Jim Hare, of Officer Justin Hare, sat in the front row of the courtroom, where they were able to look Smith directly in the eyes. Terry looked to the ceiling and cried during moments of the hearing. New Mexico U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez, New Mexico Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie and her husband comforted Mrs. Hare.
New Mexico State Police officers glared at Smith as he moved throughout the courtroom and as he was finally taken back to the prisoner cell by U.S. Marshals after the hearing.
According to court documents, it is alleged that on March 13, 2024, Smith forcibly abducted a woman from her home in South Carolina, transported her in a stolen vehicle, and fatally shot her with a handgun that he had stolen from her roommate prior to the crime. After committing the murder, Smith fled across state lines in her car to evade prosecution, traveling through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas before entering New Mexico.
On March 15, 2024, in Quay County, New Mexico, Smith fatally shot New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare after Officer Hare stopped to assist him with a flat tire. Smith then stole Officer Hare’s police cruiser with the mortally wounded officer inside. Smith drove for several minutes before crashing on a remote road and abandoning the vehicle with Officer Hare inside . Officer Hare died from his injuries at a hospital later that morning.
Law enforcement immediately launched a coordinated effort across multiple jurisdictions to locate Smith, and his name and photograph were widely disseminated by media news outlets. Smith was apprehended in Albuquerque on March 17, 2024, by deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office after a very observant gas station employee recognized Smith and contacted law enforcement.
“A life sentence for a life taken does not make our community whole. But the best way to honor Justin Hare’s life is to take care of each other,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “Today, I commit myself to the people of New Mexico. In the memory of a brave State Police officer whose final act was to help another. In honor of the hundreds of law enforcement officers who worked around the clock to protect this community and do justice for their fallen brother. And in the footsteps of the gas station clerks, everyday citizens, who bravely did the right thing in the face of clear and present danger. It is time for us all to join these strangers who did the right thing for people they never met.”
“All too often, first responders are called upon to sacrifice their lives to protect their communities. Smith’s actions have had a devastating, life-long impact on the victim’s families,” said Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our partner agencies to use all available resources to make sure that violent and dangerous criminals are pursued to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Officer Hare’s sacrifice exemplifies the unwavering courage of law enforcement.,” said NM DPS Secretary Jason R. Bowie. “This plea underscores our commitment to justice through relentless collaboration across state lines.“
“Officer Justin Hare and Ms. Machado-Fore were tragically killed by Jaremy Smith. While nothing can undo this heartbreaking loss, today offers a measure of justice for their friends and family,” said Troy Weisler, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. “Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the support of the community, Jaremy Smith will never again take a breath as a free man, and that is as it should be.“
Smith pled guilty to five counts, including carjacking resulting in death, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm.
Smith will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Smith faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. As part of the plea agreement, Smith agreed that the appropriate sentence was lifetime incarceration without the possibility of parole.
The Department of Justice has previously determined that it will not seek the death penalty for Smith for the incidents that occurred in New Mexico. But, the death penalty is still on the table for his cases in South Carolina within the federal and state level there.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and New Mexico State Police investigated this case with assistance from the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and Jack Burkhead are prosecuting the case.
Authorities in South Carolina have already officially obtained warrants to charge Smith for the brutal execution of Paramedic Crew Chief Sgt. Phonesia Machado-Fore. Unsealed court documents state Smith abducted Machado-Fore on March 13, 2024, used zip ties and plastic wrap to bind her and shot her in the head. Machado-Fore had been planning to move to Minnesota to be closer to her eldest daughter and grandchildren.
Smith is reportedly being charged in South Carolina by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office with: murder, carjacking, kidnapping, two counts of burglary in the 1st degree, two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of grand larceny of a motor vehicle and criminal conspiracy. South Carolina still has the death penalty for their killers.
[…] Smith was heavily shackled with a yellow jump suit with “NEW MEXICO CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT” written on the back. Smith pleaded guilty today to multiple federal charges in a plea agreement that will result in a federal sentence of life without the possibility of parole. More Here […]
Wood chipper.
If his attorneys were also laughing along with him, they should face reprimands and penalties, too.
The good news is that his sentence will not be commuted. Bye-Bye Biden.