Authorities say they might link Jaremy Smith, a violent fugitive who murdered a cop helping him with a flat tire, to the killing of a paramedic in another state

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Police are searching for a 32-year-old ex-convict who is suspected of killing a paramedic in South Carolina and using her car to travel to New Mexico, where he shot an officer who had come to assist him with his flat tire by the side of a road.

Jaremy Smith is wanted in the killing of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. Authorities stated that Smith is also being investigated in the death of paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, whose body was discovered after she was reported missing by family, according to South Carolina's Marion County Sheriff's Office.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler appealed to Jaremy Smith to surrender peacefully, stating, “Jaremy Smith, we are coming for you. I urge you to turn yourself in and surrender peacefully. There is nowhere he can run. There’s nowhere he can hide where we will not find him.” Weisler explained that the events took place on Friday around 5 a.m. New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Haro was sent to Interstate 40 near milepost 318 to help a motorist in a white BMW with a flat tire who had been trying to flag down other motorists.Hare stopped behind the disabled vehicle. Smith allegedly exited a white BMW and approached Officer Hare’s passenger side window. After a brief conversation about fixing a tire and possibly getting a ride, Smith pulled out a gun and shot Officer Hare, according to authorities. Smith then went to the driver’s side and shot Hare again before pushing the injured officer into the passenger seat and driving away in his patrol car with Hare inside.

Dispatch calls to Hare went unanswered, so an officer was sent to investigate. While on the way, the officer saw Hare’s patrol car speeding along a frontage road next to an interstate. The officer took the next exit to get on the frontage road and tried to catch up to Hare’s unit. Hare’s patrol car had crashed off the side of the road near milepost 304 by the time the officer caught up to it. When the officer approached the car, no one was inside. The driver had fled and vanished. Officer Hare was found on the frontage road of Interstate 40 near milepost 312. He was taken to Danbury Hospital in Tucumcari, where he died.

The police promptly identified the suspect, stating they captured him on Officer Hare’s police unit dashboard camera. They also mentioned that they linked him to the BMW, which Machado-Fore owned. She was reported missing on Thursday and found dead on Friday after information led law enforcement to a property in Dillon County, South Carolina.

Warrants were issued for Smith for Hare’s murder, but the investigation is “far from over,” said Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace.

Police rapidly identified the suspect, citing footage obtained from Officer Hare’s police car camera. They also revealed that they linked him to the BMW, which Machado-Fore owned. She was reported missing on Thursday and found dead on Friday after information led law enforcement to a property in Dillon County, South Carolina.

Warrants have been issued for Smith in connection with Hare’s murder, however, the probe is still ongoing, according to Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace. Facebook.

Wallace said that Mrs. Fore was part of the same group of first responders and her death is without reason. The community has suffered a big loss, and Wallace is determined to find and punish the person responsible for her death.

Officials stated that Smith has connections to the Albuquerque area and has a long history of crime, mostly in South Carolina, going back at least ten years.

Officer Hare, who had worked on the force for five years, was described as an important member of his community, residing in the same house he grew up in.

Weisler said that Officer Hare died while serving his state and community. On a cold, dark, and windy morning, he offered help to a person he believed needed it. That person then killed him in a cruel manner.