Nashville Restaurant Owner Killed by Illegal Immigrant from Mexico: Authorities Confirm
Nashville, TN- ICE confirms that an individual accused of the tragic killing of a well-known Nashville restaurant owner is an undocumented immigrant. According to court records, he has a prior encounter with the law in Davidson County, yet his immigration status did not raise any concerns.
Ulises Raigoz-Martinez faces charges in connection with the tragic incident at Smokin Thighs, where owner Mathew Carney lost his life in a hit-and-run crash on July 4. Police report reveals date of hit and run incident.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to see the life of Matthew Carney, a 42-year-old man who was a loving husband, a passionate dog lover, and a dear friend, cut short,” expressed Robert Young, a close friend of Carney.
Now Martinez is facing multiple charges, including criminal homicide.
According to ICE, a person has identified themselves as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, stating that they entered the United States without proper authorization from an immigration officer.
According to authorities, Martinez and Adrian Diaz were allegedly involved in the theft of tools from Carney’s truck. Carney bravely attempted to intervene, but tragically, he was thrown from the car’s hood when the suspects fled the scene. Regrettably, Carney later succumbed to his injuries.
“Losing his life over two individuals who are in this country illegally due to a dispute over a set of tools is a tragic and avoidable incident,” said a spokesperson. A man was discovered in the middle of Wedgewood Avenue just moments after leaving his business.
Months earlier, Martinez was booked on February 28 at a Davidson County jail, and ICE informed FOX 17 News that their system did not alert them at that time about his immigration status.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office informed FOX 17 News that they process individuals’ fingerprints, and if they are found to be in the country illegally, this information is automatically shared with ICE. However, for reasons unknown, this did not occur in February but did happen in July, as reported by ICE.
Martinez was taken into custody in February on multiple felony charges, including the theft of a vehicle.
However, on March 6, during Martinez’s preliminary hearing, Davidson County Judge Jim Todd dismissed the three felony charges against him inside a Nashville courtroom.
Martinez and Christian Arredondo allegedly involved in vehicle theft and tool theft.
The DA’s office informed FOX 17 News that the statute of limitations has not expired, allowing them to proceed with the charges in this case.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has not provided an explanation for the discrepancy in Martinez’s immigration status between February and July, leaving us with unanswered questions. Even ICE is at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, those close to Carney are grieving a tragic loss that they believe could have been prevented.
“I think there are still measures in place to prevent the release of illegal aliens who may go on to commit more crimes,” Young stated.
Mark your calendars for Martinez’s upcoming court hearing on August 12 at 9:15 am as reported by Fox-17 News.
