The man suspected of fatally shooting a New Mexico state police officer last week was taken into custody after law enforcement officers shot him during a foot pursuit, authorities said.
The arrest of Jaremy Smith, 33, comes two days after state police officer Justin Hare was shot when he stopped to help the driver of a disabled vehicle – allegedly Smith – on Interstate 40. Investigators have determined that vehicle, a white BMW, belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina paramedic who was found dead there last Friday, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
On Sunday, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a petrol station attendant in Albuquerque, who described an individual matching Smith’s description, Law enforcement officers found Smith walking and began creating a perimeter in a nearby neighbourhood, Allen said.
“During this time, as they had an eye on Mr Smith, a foot pursuit ensued,” Allen said. “Shots were fired. Some shots (struck) Smith – we don’t know the amount right now, or how many. That’s still under investigation.”
Smith was taken to a local hospital where he’s been treated for his injuries and remains under police guard, Allen said.
State Police Chief Troy Weisler said he was thankful no deputies were hurt on Sunday in the encounter with Smith, adding state police would be focused in the coming days on determining whether anyone assisted the suspect.
New Mexico officials did not address the link to Machado-Fore’s death in their news conference on Sunday. Authorities have not identified Smith as a suspect in that case, but the New Mexico State Police previously called him a “person of interest.” Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace vowed to “not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice.”
Smith faces a slew of charges, New Mexico State Police previously said, including first-degree murder, armed robbery, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property.
Officer shot ‘in cold blood’
Hare, a father of two who graduated from the police recruit school in 2018, was sent around 5am on Friday to help a driver with a flat tyre who was trying to wave down other motorists on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari in eastern New Mexico.
Hare parked behind Smith’s vehicle, and Smith approached the officer’s passenger side window, Weisler said, where the two had a brief conversation about fixing the flat. Hare offered to give Smith a ride to town, Weisler said.
Smith then took out a gun and shot Hare, Weisler said, before walking to the driver’s side of the officer’s vehicle and shooting Hare again. Smith pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in the patrol vehicle.
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Another state police officer saw Hare’s patrol car travelling west at high speed while responding to the scene. When that officer caught up with Hare’s vehicle, it had crashed. Smith was thought to have fled on foot, while Hare was found nearby and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need,” Weisler said on Saturday.
“That person killed him in cold blood. The last words officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him.”
While police in New Mexico searched for Smith, authorities in South Carolina were searching for Machado-Fore, whose family reported her missing on Thursday.
On Friday morning, New Mexico State Police told Marion County investigators that Machado-Fore’s vehicle was involved in Hare’s shooting, the sheriff’s office said on Facebook. Her body was found later on Friday evening, outside of Lake View in Dillon County, the sheriff’s office said.
