State police officer mourned

The suspect was caught after a two-day manhunt, but many residents in Quay County and the law enforcement community still were grieving a New Mexico State Police officer from Logan who was shot and killed Friday morning west of Tucumcari.

NMSP patrolman Justin Hare, 35, a member of the force since 2018, was shot fatally on Interstate 40 when he stopped to help the driver of a disabled vehicle.

The suspect, Jaremy Alexander Smith, 33, of South Carolina was apprehended in Albuquerque on Sunday morning after Bernalillo County sheriff's deputies shot him during a foot pursuit.

An arrest warrant for charges that included first-degree murder had been issued. Smith was taken to a hospital for treatment of his wounds, under police guard.

Smith also is a person of interest in the death of a paramedic in South Carolina. He had been driving her vehicle at the time of Hare's killing.

The shooting

Information about Hare's killing came from reports by New Mexico State Police.

Hare was responding to a request to help a motorist in a BMW with a flat tire about 5 a.m. Friday on I-40 west of Tucumcari. The motorist had been waiving to passing motorists for help.

Hare parked behind the disabled vehicle near mile marker 318, NMSP Chief Troy Weisler said, and was shot moments later.

"The suspect exited his vehicle and approached Officer Hare's passenger side window," Weisler said in a videotaped message. "A short conversation ensued about repairing his tire, and Officer Hare offered to give the suspect a ride to town.

"Then, without warning, the suspect pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare. The suspect then walked to the driver's side and shot Officer Hare again. He then pushed Officer Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in Officer Hare's patrol unit, which was abandoned a short time later.

"The last words that Officer Hare uttered on this earth was an offer to help the man who was about to kill him," Weisler said in the video. "I am disgusted and I am sickened by the actions of this cold-blooded murderer."

Smith then pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in his patrol unit. After calls from dispatch to Hare went unanswered, another NMSP officer was dispatched to assist.

Hare's duress signal began to go off. The duress signal is an emergency function of the officer's handheld radio the officer can activate, and it sends an emergency signal to dispatch. It remains unknown whether Hare activated the signal or whether the suspect accidentally activate while pushing him.

As the assisting officer continued to the scene, he saw Hare's patrol unit driving west at a high rate of speed along the I-40 frontage road near milepost 312. When the officer left the freeway and caught up with the patrol unit, it had been crashed on the frontage road near milepost 304.

The assisting officer approached Hare's vehicle to find it empty. Smith had apparently fled on foot.

Hare later was found on the frontage road near milepost 312. He was taken by ambulance to Trigg Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced dead at 7:21 a.m. Friday.

The suspect last had been last seen on foot on the frontage road at milepost 304 between Montoya and Newkirk.

Capture

Smith was captured Sunday morning in Albuquerque after a foot pursuit and shootout.

Smith was taken into custody after being shot several times by pursuing officers from the Bernalillo County sheriff's office.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries, according to a Bernalillo County sheriff's deputy during a news briefing Sunday.

A store clerk at an Albuquerque gas station spotted Smith and called police, noting he matched the description of the suspect.

Weisler said officers would pursue charges against anyone who aided and abetted Smith, who was known to have ties to Albuquerque.

Smith is being charged with 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.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hailed Smith's capture as "a major step toward justice for Officer's Hare's family."

"While it doesn't bring Officer Hare back, it allows all New Mexicans to breathe a sigh of relief that a dangerous fugitive is off our streets. I again extend my deepest sympathies to Officer Hare's family, friends and colleagues in law enforcement for their tragic loss."

Smith also is considered a person of interest in the death of South Carolina paramedic Phenesia Machado-Fore. An autopsy was scheduled for Machado-Fore this week. Smith had been driving Machado-Fore's car at the time he shot Hare.

NMSP stated Smith had an extensive and violent criminal history that included burglary, armed robbery, resisting or evading officers, auto theft, shooting at or from a vehicle and taking hostages and rioting in jail.

The officer

Hare was known for taking the extra step in helping drivers with their broken-down cars.

"If he saw a car or a pickup on the side of the highway, he was always stopping to try to help them," said Jason Goen, a Tucumcari mechanic and tow truck driver who regularly worked alongside Hare. "When you call out road service it's kind of expensive, and he would help people, you know, try to help save them money and save them time. ... He was just a stand-up guy."

Goen, who works for Jack's Truck Repair and 4J's Towing & Recovery Services in Tucumcari, said Hare was a hardworking patrolman, including breaking out his own electric impact wrench or getting down on the ground to help drivers change their tires.

"Every time we had a semi truck wreck, he would be out there. He would be the last state police officer to leave the scene," Goen said. "He was down there as long as he could, helping direct traffic so that we would be safe doing our job."

The Logan Police Department posted on Facebook that Hare was "long-time member of the Logan community and will be greatly missed but never forgotten. ... Hare, may you rest in peace, Sir. We have the watch from here."

Daizzare Quintana, who had two children with Hare, gave a statement Sunday on Facebook.

"He always let the girls and I know that we were his priority," she wrote. "When he wasn't on patrol he was with us, or putting back into our small community.

"Justin coached sports for our girls. He loved the small town feel and had no hesitation to move back to Logan so that we could raise our family. His friendliness and kind demeanor will never be forgotten in Logan or anywhere else for that matter. That's one thing I'm sure of.

"I don't know what the coming days will be like for my girls and I. But we will try to move forward knowing that Justin is with us every step of the way. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank you enough. My girls and I thank you for the donations, the kind words and most of all the prayers."

Dozens of other gestures or messages of condolence came from residents, businesses and law-enforcement agencies.

Members of the Tucumcari Fire & Rescue Department unfurled an American flag on the I-40 overpass over South First Street on Friday in tribute of Hare.

On Friday afternoon, dozens of police vehicles escorted a hearse containing Hare's body out of Tucumcari. Hare's remains were taken to the Office of Medical Examiner in Albuquerque.

Hare also is survived by his parents.

The Bank of Logan set up a donation fund for Hare's family at P.O. Box 97, Logan NM 88426. Checks can be made payable to FBO Justin Hare Family Benefit.

The Annex Bar & Grill in Logan donated more than $3,100 to Hare's family after a concert Saturday night by the Clay Clear Band.

Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari reserved a candlelit empty table "for and in loving memory of Officer Hare. May you rest in peace. Our thoughts are prayers are with family and friends."

New Mexico State Police is inviting the public to a vigil in honor of Hare at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the NMSP office in Tucumcari.

Gabrielle Porter of the Santa Fe New Mexican contributed to this report.