A South Carolina man, Jaremy Smith, pleaded guilty on Friday to charges related to the fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. The plea was entered in U.S. district court in Albuquerque as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors. Smith faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
Smith had initially pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping resulting in a death, carjacking resulting in a death, using a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen firearm. A charge related to driving a stolen vehicle across state lines was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
The incident occurred on March 15, 2024, along Interstate 40 near Tucumcari, New Mexico. Officer Hare had stopped to assist a motorist in a white BMW when Smith shot him. Smith then drove away in the stolen vehicle, triggering a response from other officers. Hare was found fatally injured on a frontage road about an hour later.
Smith is also charged in South Carolina in connection with the killing of a paramedic whose car was stolen and used in the New Mexico incident. While the U.S. Attorney General opted not to pursue the death penalty in this case, it remains a possibility in the pending South Carolina proceedings.
New Mexico Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie expressed support for Officer Hare's family and highlighted the need for stronger state laws to hold violent offenders accountable. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has indicated that public safety will be a top priority in the upcoming legislative session.
The guilty plea marks a significant development in a case that had been set for trial later this year. The law enforcement community, along with the family of Officer Hare, gathered in the courtroom during the hearing, reflecting on the long road to justice for the fallen officer.
