Suspect in fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer captured, authorities say

TFD – Get the latest updates on the apprehension of the suspect involved in the shooting that led to the death of a New Mexico State Police officer. Stay informed with The Fox Daily as we cover the unfolding events.

Following a police chase and an officer-involved incident, the individual suspected of shooting and killing a New Mexico State Police officer has been brought into custody, the state police said.

Two days after State Police Officer Justin Hare was shot when he pulled over to assist the driver of a disabled vehicle on Interstate 40—possibly Jaremy Smith—on Sunday, the New Mexico State Police announced on Facebook that Smith, 33, had been “captured after a pursuit and officer-involved shooting” involving the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

Since then, investigators have discovered that the white BMW belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a paramedic in Marion, South Carolina, who was discovered dead on Friday night, according to the sheriff’s office in Marion County.

Smith was dubbed a “person of interest” by the New Mexico State Police in the Machado-Fore investigation, although he has not been named as a suspect by the authorities. “Not stopping until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice,” declared Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace.

Earlier, the New Mexico State Police stated that Smith was charged with numerous offenses, including first-degree murder, armed robbery, firing from or into a moving car, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a handgun, stealing a moving vehicle without authorization, and criminal damage to property.

Officer shot “in cold blood” as police looked for a paramedic who had gone missing

According to a video statement released by State Police Chief Troy Weisler, Hare, a father of two who completed the police recruit school in 2018, was dispatched at approximately five in the morning on Friday to assist a driver on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari, eastern New Mexico, who had a flat tire and was attempting to wave down other drivers.

Weisler claimed that after Hare pulled up behind Smith’s car, Smith went up to the officer and spoke briefly through the passenger side window about mending the apartment. Weisler reported that Hare offered to drive Smith into town.

According to Weisler, Smith then pulled out a gun, shot Hare, then moved to the driver’s side of the police car and shot Hare once again. Weisler claimed that Smith shoved Hare into the passenger seat of the patrol car and took off.

While responding to the incident, another state police officer noticed Hare’s patrol car speeding west, according to a news release from state police. Hare’s car had crashed by the time the officer arrived. Smith was thought to have fled on foot, the release said, while Hare was found nearby and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“He offered help to a person he thought was in need on a cold, dark, and windy morning,” Weisler stated during a press conference on Saturday. “That individual brutally murdered him. Officer Hare’s final words on this planet were to offer assistance to a man who was going to murder him.

Authorities in South Carolina were looking for Machado-Fore, whose family had reported her missing on Thursday night, while authorities in New Mexico were looking for Smith, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

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. According to the sheriff’s office, her body was discovered later on Friday night in Dillon County, outside of Lake View.

This is a work in progress and will be updated.