ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) – The US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced that 33-year-old Jaremy Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the March 15 shooting death of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare west of Tucumcari.

According to court documents, Smith had allegedly stolen a white BMW from South Carolina in March and driven it to New Mexico. On the morning of March 15, Smith allegedly tried to flag down passing motorists on I-40 in Quay County for help with a flat tire, and Hare was dispatched to respond to the scene.

When Hare arrived to help just after 5 a.m., Smith allegedly shot Hare multiple times. Court documents said that Smith then allegedly drove Hare’s patrol vehicle westbound on I-40, removed Hare from the vehicle, then continued to drive the patrol vehicle until eventually crashing it in Guadalupe County. As noted in previous reports on MyHighPlains.com, Smith was later arrested in the Albuquerque area after he was shot and wounded by officers in a police chase.

The federal grand jury indicted Smith on multiple charges related to Hare’s death, including:

• Carjacking resulting in death;
• Causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence;
• Kidnapping resulting in death;
• Being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm;
• Possession of a stolen firearm; and
• Interstate transport of a stolen vehicle.

The attorney’s office said that if convicted of those charges, Smith could face a mandatory life sentence or death for the “kidnapping resulting in death” charge, and up to a life sentence or death for the carjacking and firearm offenses.

As noted in previous reports on MyHighPlains.com, around the time of the federal indictment, arrest warrants were also issued for Smith out of South Carolina related to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Marion County paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore. Smith was accused of being connected to Machado-Fore’s death and was driving a white BMW stolen from her at the time of Hare’s death.