Man Sentenced to Life for Murder of New Mexico Officer

Jaremy Smith was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the 2024 murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, who had stopped to help Smith with a flat tire along I-40 near Tucumcari. Smith shot Hare, carjacked his patrol vehicle, and left the wounded officer on a remote road where he later died. The sentencing followed emotional statements from Hare’s family and colleagues, who expressed both grief and a sense of closure. Smith’s federal charges included carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, and firearms violations. He is also accused of killing a paramedic in South Carolina prior to Hare’s murder and faces pending charges there. Authorities and prosecutors emphasized the impact of Smith's violent actions across state lines and the enduring loss suffered by Hare’s family.