Police in New Mexico said a man tied to the killings of a state trooper and a South Carolina paramedic was captured Sunday after a shootout with officers.
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said Jaremy Alexander Smith, 33, of Marion, South Carolina, was taken into custody by deputies in Albuquerque after he opened fire on authorities and tried to run away.
The sheriff’s office said Mr. Smith was shot by deputies during the exchange and is being treated at a local hospital.
Mr. Smith became the focus of an intense manhunt after he was tied to the deadly shooting of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare days earlier along Interstate 40.
State police said Officer Hare responded to a report of a motorist with a flat tire around 5 a.m. Friday just west of Tucumcari.
Authorities said Mr. Smith approached the officer’s passenger side window and shot the lawman point blank.
“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,” State Police Chief Troy Weisler said.
The chief said Mr. Smith then pushed Officer Ware’s body into the passenger seat and drove off in the police cruiser.
Police later found the crashed cruiser on the side of the road. Officer Hare’s body, which wasn’t in the abandoned patrol car, was found near milepost 312.
State police issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Smith charging him with murder. Chief Weisler said the suspect has a criminal history that includes hostage-taking and rioting in jail, armed robbery, burglary, resisting arrest and shootings from a motor vehicle.
Authorities later learned that the white BMW in which Mr. Smith drove to New Mexico had been reported stolen in South Carolina.
The vehicle belonged to a paramedic named Phonesia Machado-Fore. Mr. Smith was named as a person of interest in her killing as well.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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