According to Krqe Prosecutors have announced that Jaremy Smith, the man accused of fatally shooting New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, will not face the death penalty. A notice was filed by the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez, in federal court on Wednesday, confirming the decision.
The incident occurred in March when Officer Hare stopped to assist Smith, who was stranded along Interstate 40 west of Tucumcari. According to investigators, Smith shot and killed Hare before fleeing the scene in the officer’s police vehicle, which he later crashed.
Following the shooting, law enforcement launched an extensive manhunt for Smith, who was apprehended two days later in Bernalillo County.
Smith faces federal charges, including carjacking resulting in death and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He also has a lengthy criminal history in South Carolina and is considered a person of interest in the death of South Carolina paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore.
Despite the severity of the charges, prosecutors have chosen not to seek the death penalty in this case.
