GoFundMe launched for fallen Officer Justin Hare’s family, services announced

New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, 35, was murdered by suspected killer Jaremy Smith on Friday morning after Hare began to conduct a welfare check related to a vehicle stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 40, near mile marker 320 close to Tucumcari. The cop killer was on the run until Sunday, when Smith was finally apprehended in Albuquerque.

Tiffany Martinez, a friend of the family, is organizing a GoFundMe page for Hare’s children and girlfriend, Diazarre Quintana. 

“Officer Hare put on his uniform like any other day. Kissed her goodbye and I’ll see you after work. Only this time, she nor his children would see him at the end of his shift. Because of the evil act of a criminal, Daiz, and his 3 children will never hug and kiss him before the start or end of his shifts again. Instead, she got the knock on the door that no spouse ever wishes to receive. At that moment their lives were forever changed,” wrote Martinez.

“Justin, was an exceptional Officer but an even better provider, partner and father. Daiz was a stay at home mom and has been able to do so since the birth of their first child. She is currently pregnant with their third child, and overcome with grief and the unknown of what the future will bring,” she noted.

So far, the fundraiser has already grown to $77,204 of the $100,000 goal, with 837 donations as of 9:48 a.m. on Tuesday.

Officer Hare’s funeral services have also been announced. On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. at Legacy Church in Albuquerque: 7201 Central Ave. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121.

To find Officer Hare’s GoFundMe page, click here.