New Mexico
Man pleads guilty to killing New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man has pleaded guilty to killing New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari back in March.
Jaremy Smith pleaded guilty during a hearing in federal court Friday. As a part of the plea agreement, Smith admitted to shooting and killing Hare and taking off in his vehicle.
Investigators said this happened while Hare was trying to help Smith deal with what appeared to be a flat tire. For more than two days after the deadly shooting, law enforcement agencies in New Mexico and surrounding areas looked for him. Then, a Murphy’s gas station employee offered a tip to law enforcement that ultimately led to them capturing Smith in Albuquerque.
A month later, a federal grand jury indicted Smith on a plethora of charges for the alleged murder. Smith subsequently pleaded not guilty before changing his plea Friday.
As a part of Smith’s plea agreement, he also admitted to stealing a car and kidnapping Hare.
Smith was also charged with murder in South Carolina for allegedly killing a paramedic. He is currently behind bars.
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