As community members gathered to honor slain Smokin Thighs owner Matthew Carney on Thursday, Nashville police were busy trying to find a 24-year-old man wanted in connection with his hit-and-run death last month.
The man fled from authorities Wednesday into a wooded area, avoiding arrest on a warrant issued in connection with a pickup truck stolen from a Franklin Pike church, police said.
Two other investigators believed to be linked to the Carney case were arrested Wednesday, but police have not named them as suspects.
Dozens of friends, family, colleagues and community members gathered Thursday for a candlelight vigil to celebrate Carney’s life.
“I thank everyone for coming,” said the restaurant owner’s brother, Adam Carney. “This is a sad time, but the memory of it is a fun time.”
Matthew Carney, 42, died 10 days after suffering injuries in a hit-and-run crashed behind his restaurant at around 6pm on June 19th. Police say speeding truck came from behind from the restaurant and ran over Carney, who was thrown from the truck onto the road on Wedgewood Avenue.
Ten days after the accident, police found what they believed to be the truck that hit Carney in the parking lot of the LaQuinta Inn on Sidco Drive, they announced, noting the vehicle was mostly spray painted and had a temporary tag on it.
Adam Carney said Thursday that his brother lived at 100 miles per hour.
Smokin Thighs general manager Landon Allen agreed.
Allen worked for Matthew Carney for five years and said every time his boss spoke to him, he called Allen, his brother.
“My wife calls him my situationist because we work so closely every day. And not having that every day is crucial for me,” he said.
Emotions ran high as family and friends raised candles into the Nashville night sky.
At one point, Adam Carney shouted “to Matt” as the group raised the sails.
A fundraiser, organized by local businesspeople, raised nearly $37,000 for Matthew Carney’s medical expenses and $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a hit-and-run suspect.
This article originally appeared in the Nashville Tennessean: Nashville restaurant owner honored with vigil as police search for new leads
