South Carolina authorities have charged Jaremy Smith with 17 counts related to the murder of Florence County paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore last month.
In addition to murder and kidnapping, Smith has been charged with two counts of burglary, carjacking, possessing a weapon in commission of a violent crime, felon in possession of a firearm, criminal conspiracy, and grand larceny of a motor vehicle, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
As CrimeOnline reported, Smith allegedly killed Machado-Fore, who was reported missing on March 12, and drove her car to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police Office Justin Hare three days later when he stopped to assist him with a flat tire on along Interstate 40. Smith reportedly shot Hare as he pulled alongside him, then walked around to the driver’s side of the patrol vehicle, shot him again, then pushed him to the side and drove off in the police vehicle.
Another officer was called to investigate when dispatch calls to Hare went unanswered, Law&Crime reported. That officer spotted the patrol call speeding along a frontage road and pursued, taking the next exit to get to the frontage road.
Smith crashed the patrol car but was gone by the time the officer arrived. Hare was found along the frontage road about eight miles back and taken to a hospital in Tucumcari, where he died.
Police identified the suspect after seeing him on Hare’s dashboard camera.
Smith was captured at an Albuquerque gas station on March 17 after the clerk checked his identification and noticed the unique spelling of his first name and called police. He tried to flee when officers arrived and was shot reaching for his waistband.
Smith has been charged in federal court with carjacking resulting in death and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, KOAT reported. He will face a state murder charge for Hare’s death when that case is complete.
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[Featured image: Phonesia Machado-Fore/Marion County Sheriff’s Office; Jaremy Smith and Justin Hare/New Mexico State Police]
