A man suspected of killing a New Mexico state cop was captured Sunday morning in Albuquerque.
Jaremy Smith, 33, was wanted in the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Friday on Interstate 40, west of the small highway town of Tucumcari.
Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies spotted Smith on a residential road in Albuquerque around 7 a.m. Sunday. They were alerted to his location by a gas station clerk, who said he saw a man matching Smith’s description.
The officers responded and began pursuing Smith on foot, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said at a press conference. During the chase, deputies opened fire on Smith, striking him multiple times.
Jon Austria/The Albuquerque Journal via AP
A portrait of Jaremy Smith is displayed beside U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Alexander Uballez, left, on Saturday as Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie gives a briefing following the death of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare. (Jon Austria/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
“Shots were fired,” Allen said. “Some shots strike Smith, we don’t know the amount right now or how many, that’s still under investigation. But Smith was then taken into custody without further incident.”
Smith was transported to a local hospital under police guard. The sheriff did not mention his medical condition.
Officer Hare was dispatched to help a stranded motorist in a white BMW around 5 a.m. Friday, according to New Mexico State Police. When he arrived, he offered the motorist, Smith, a ride. Instead, Smith pulled out a gun and shot Hare, cops said.
Smith then walked around the car and shot Hare again, then shoved him into the passenger seat and commandeered the police vehicle, according to authorities.
Hare’s cop car was eventually found crashed and empty. Hare was found critically injured on the side of a road.
The white BMW that Smith was driving belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina paramedic who was found dead Friday after being reported missing Thursday. Smith is originally from Marion, S.C., and Machado-Fore’s body was found in Lake View, S.C., about 15 miles northeast of Marion.
With News Wire Services
