Current:Home > FinanceManhunt on for suspect wanted in fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer -WealthSync Hub
Manhunt on for suspect wanted in fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer
View
Date:2025-04-11 14:46:56
New Mexico State police said Saturday they have identified the suspect in the shooting death of one of their officers as a 33-year-old South Carolina man who was driving a car that belonged to a woman killed in his home state.
State Police Chief Troy Weisler said during a news conference that authorities are seeking Jaremy Smith of Marion, of South Carolina, in the fatal shooting of Officer Justin Hare, 35. Smith was considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities said Hare was dispatched about 5 a.m. Friday to help a motorist in a white BMW with a flat tire on Interstate 40, west of Tucumcari.
Hare parked behind the BMW, and the suspect got out, approached the patrol car on the passenger side, then shot the officer without warning. They said the suspect then walked to the driver's side of the police vehicle, shot Hare again, and pushed him into the back seat before taking off in the patrol vehicle.
State police were alerted to the shooting by a "duress signal" coming from Hare's radio, Weisler said. The arriving officer found the abandoned patrol car, and later the wounded officer farther back on a frontage road near the interstate. Hare was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Weisler said his department later learned that the white BMW was reported missing in South Carolina and that it belonged to a woman who was killed there, paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore. New Mexico State police are in contact with South Carolina authorities, he said, but there was no word on whether Smith had been charged in the earlier killing.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina reported on its Facebook page Saturday that Machado-Fore's body was found about 6:15 p.m. Friday outside of Lake View in Dillon County. Her family had reported her missing Thursday evening.
The Dillon County Coroner's Office has scheduled an autopsy for Monday.
New Mexico State police issued an arrest warrant for Smith on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, being a felon possessing a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property.
Weisler said Smith had ties to New Mexico, having spent time there in the past, and had a long criminal history.
Hare had been with the state police agency since 2018. Born and raised in New Mexico, he is survived by his parents, girlfriend, and their two young children.
- In:
- New Mexico
veryGood! (93653)
Related
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- This 21-year-old Republican beat a 10-term incumbent. What’s next for Wyatt Gable?
- Drake announced for Houston Bun B concert: See who else is performing at sold-out event
- Psst! Coach Outlet Secretly Added Hundreds of New Bags to Their Clearance Section and We're Obsessed
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- New York City Ready to Expand Greenways Along Rivers, Railways and Parks
- Washington state achieves bipartisan support to ban hog-tying by police and address opioid crisis
- Sheldon Johnson, Joe Rogan podcast guest, arrested after body parts found in freezer
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Spanish utility Iberdrola offers to buy remaining shares to take 100% ownership of Avangrid
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- ‘Oh my God feeling.’ Trooper testifies about shooting man with knife, worrying about other officers
- Bill to protect election officials unanimously passes Maryland Senate
- What is happening in Haiti? Here's what to know.
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Is TikTok getting shut down? Congress flooded with angry calls over possible US ban
- What is happening in Haiti? Here's what to know.
- Homeowners in these 10 states are seeing the biggest gains in home equity
Recommendation
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
Facing historic shifts, Latin American women to bathe streets in purple on International Women’s Day
LSU's Angel Reese dismisses injury concerns after SEC Tournament win: 'I'm from Baltimore'
Barack Obama turned down a '3 Body Problem' cameo in the best way to 'GOT' creators
Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
'God help her': Dramatic video shows zookeepers escape silverback gorilla in Fort Worth
Maui officials aim to accelerate processing of permits to help Lahaina rebuild
Israel-Hamas cease-fire unlikely before Ramadan as Hamas delegation leaves talks, but says they'll resume