Marion man accused of killing New Mexico State Police officer will not face death penalty

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The man accused of killing New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare will not face the death penalty, according to a notice filed by prosecutors in federal court on Wednesday.

Investigators said Jaremy Smith of Marion shot and killed Hare on Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari in March. Hare pulled over to help Smith who was stranded along the highway when Smith shot him, according to court documents. Smith then fled in Hare’s police unit and crashed it.

The same day, law enforcement launched a manhunt for Smith and he was arrested two days later in Bernalillo County, officials said.

In the court notice submitted by United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico Alexander M.M. Uballez, prosecutors wrote that they would not seek the death penalty in the case. Smith is charged with carjacking resulting in death and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Smith, who has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina , is also listed as a person of interest in connection to the death of South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore.

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