Investigative work by the MNPD’s Homicide Unit, in collaboration with the Traffic Division, led to Ulises Martinez late this afternoon being charged with criminal homicide and evidence tampering in the death of Smokin Thighs restaurant owner Matthew Carney. Carney was critically injured June 19 when he was slung from a Nissan Frontier pickup truck as it was being driven away from the rear of the restaurant onto Wedgewood Avenue. Carney died from his injuries on July 4.
During the investigation, Martinez, 29, was identified as a person wanted for questioning in Carney’s death. He was also wanted on an outstanding auto theft warrant. Specialized Investigations Division TITANS detectives apprehended Martinez this morning at a motel on Metroplex Drive in South Nashville.
During an interview at police headquarters this afternoon, Martinez admitted that he and an associate, Adrian Diaz, were driving through the Smokin Thighs lot when they stopped to steal tools from Carney’s pickup truck. He said Carney came out, confronted them, and attempted to stop the Frontier from leaving. Carney wound up on the hood of the Frontier and was slung off as it turned onto Wedgewood Avenue.
Diaz, 31, is in custody in Williamson County on charges of evading arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Martinez is being held in the Downtown Detention Center without bond pending a hearing.
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Ulises Martinez, 29