Man Accused of Killing State Trooper is Person of Interest in EMT’s Murder

A man accused of murdering a New Mexico State Police officer while driving a car belonging to a deceased South Carolina paramedic was apprehended this weekend following a violent shootout with law enforcement.

New Mexico State Trooper’s Death

In the early hours of Friday, State police officer Justin Hare had been dispatched for a routine call to assist a stranded motorist with a flat tire. This supposedly mundane task took a tragic turn when the motorist, identified as South Carolina resident Jaremy Smith, reportedly shot Hare before fleeing the scene, as per the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

Prior to his apprehension, local law enforcement had issued an arrest warrant for Smith with multiple charges, including first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Mysterious Link to Slained Paramedic

As investigations progressed, another grave detail surfaced, indicating that Smith had been driving a white BMW, which had belonged to paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, whose body had been discovered on Friday evening in South Carolina.

Although Smith has not been charged with the death of Machado-Fore yet, authorities have flagged him as a person of interest in the case.

The Arrest

After two days of intense search, Smith was arrested in Albuquerque on Sunday. The arrest occurred post an altercation during which Smith was shot in the foot by a sheriff’s deputy. He currently remains in custody in New Mexico, awaiting further charges.

A Community in Mourning

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, State Police Chief Troy Weisler shared heartfelt words regarding the loss of officer Hare. “Officer Hare died serving his state and community. On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need. That person killed him in cold blood.”

On the topic of the deceased paramedic, Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace issued a poignant statement. “Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is senseless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss. My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice.”