‘Saying Goodbye Is Hard’: Nashville Restaurant Closes Doors After Owner Killed By Illegal Immigrant

A Nashville restaurant that had become a local staple in the community closed its doors for good this weekend months after its owner was killed by an illegal immigrant from Mexico during an attempted robbery.

After 10 years of business, Smokin Thighs announced that last Sunday would be its last day of service. The restaurant’s owner, 42-year-old Matt Carney, died in July from injuries sustained during the incident in the parking lot of his restaurant on June 19. According to police, 29-year-old Ulises Martinez, an illegal immigrant, admitted to striking Carney with his truck during an attempted robbery.

Martinez was charged with murder days after the incident when he was arrested at a Nashville motel. Martinez’s immigration status was first reported by The Daily Wire, with ICE saying that he unlawfully entered the country at an unknown date and location. A second man arrested over the incident, 31-year-old Adrian Diaz-Aguirre, has previous criminal convictions and has been deported four times.

On Sunday, Carney’s wife, Molly, posted on social media that Smokin Thighs, which started as a food truck, would close. 

“Saying goodbye is hard. It’s really hard,” she posted. “It is with profound sadness that I share the time has come for us all to say goodbye to Smokin’ Thighs.”

“To the Nashville community, I’ll be forever grateful for your welcoming spirit of Smokin’ Thighs. Your unwavering support of our family, particularly in these past months, has been remarkable,” she added. “Without you Matt’s dream would never have become a reality.”

Molly Carney also thanked all current and former employees who worked with her husband at the restaurant over the years. 

Carney attempted to stop two men from stealing tools out of the bed of his truck outside of his restaurant, according to police. The two men attempted to drive off, throwing Carney off the hood of the truck and onto the street, where he bled heavily before being rushed to the hospital.

Carney ended up dying from his injuries on July 4, and Martinez was arrested two weeks later on July 18. 

Carney’s death was lamented by former President Donald Trump, who spoke of the incident while discussing a number of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. 

“Look at what’s happening to our cities. Our cities are being overrun,” Trump said. “On July 4th, a 42-year-old Nashville man died after he tried to stop an illegal alien from stealing tools out of his truck. The illegal alien did a number on this man that nobody could even believe. The police officers said [it was] one of the most vicious crimes they’ve ever seen.”

Nashville Police Homicide Detective Tyler Manivong testified in August that Martinez confessed to driving the truck and hitting Carney when he was first arrested and interviewed by police.