Man accused of killing NMSP officer near Tucumcari shot by deputies, in hospital

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KVII) — The man accused of killing a New Mexico State Police Officer near Tucumcari was captured after a police chase and officer involved shooting.

Jaremy Smith was arrested in Albuquerque.

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said a clerk at a Murphy's gas station called 911 at 7 a.m. MT after seeing someone matching Smith's description .

Deputies responded, saw Smith walking down the street and began setting up a perimeter.

Smith spotted the deputies and ran. During the foot chase, shots were fired.

According to Allen, some of the shots hit Smith. It's unknown how many at this time.

Smith was arrested and taken to the hospital where he is "under guard, being treated for his injuries."

“Yesterday, we said we would bring Jeremy Smith to justice. That there was nowhere he could run. That there was nowhere he could hide," said NMSP Chief Troy Weisler. "Today, thanks to our community. Thanks to our fellow law enforcement partners, we were able to do that.”

Weisler said he was especially thankful no one else was injured this morning,

NMSP and other law enforcement agencies are now searching for anyone who may have help Smith get from Tucumcari to Albuquerque.

“While our work is not done, this now gives us the opportunity to start grieving the loss of our officer," said Weisler.

Smith is accused of killing Officer Justin Hare on Friday morning near Tucumcari.

NMSP said Smith had a flat tire at milepost 318 and was trying to flag down other motorists.

Hare was dispatched to help.

NMSP said Smith shot Hare twice and then stole the patrol car, with Hare still inside.

Smith crashed less than 15 miles down the road.

Hare was found on frontage road near milepost 312. He was rushed to Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari where he died at 7:21 a.m.

On Saturday, Chief Troy Weisler said law enforcement tracked what was believed to be Smith’s trail for “quite some time” but lost it when the trail returned back to the interstate.

He said it's possible he got a ride at that point.

RELATED: Emotional New Mexico State Police Chief vows to catch Smith

Weisler said Smith had ties to the Albuquerque area.

When he had the flat tire, Smith was driving a BMW owned by a South Carolina paramedic.

Phonesia Machado-Fore was reported missing Thursday in Marion County, South Carolina.

Her body was found about 6:15 p.m. Friday.

Smith is a person of interest in her death.