Nashville Homicide Lawyer

Experienced Homicide Attorney in Nashville, TN

Few legal situations are as serious as a homicide charge. The last thing you want to do is try to defend yourself against a seasoned prosecutor without the right kind of legal support in your corner. Tennessee carries the death penalty, and the state actively carries out executions. The stakes could not be higher for you, and it’s vital that you do whatever you can to protect yourself. Contact a Nashville homicide lawyer to start working on a strong defense strategy.

The legal team at The Law Office of Cesar Arbelaez understands how terrifying the penalties can be if you are convicted of homicide. We’re a local law firm that can help you understand the state’s homicide laws and how they can affect your case. Choosing the right trusted Nashville criminal defense attorney can end up being the most important decision you make. Cesar Arbelaez can bring years of criminal defense experience to your case and give you a strong chance of success.

Matter Types We Handle in Nashville, TN

How to Handle Yourself in a Homicide Arrest

If you are charged with homicide in Nashville, your case may be handled by the Davidson County Criminal Court, which can be found in the Justice A.A. Birch Building on 2nd Avenue North. It’s absolutely imperative that you take this case seriously.

In 2025, Nashville reported 74 homicides for the year. Statewide, there were 28 federal sentences carried out for murder in 2024. As of 2023, there were 24,408 people incarcerated in state prisons in Tennessee, many of them for homicide.

The most important thing you can do in the event of a homicide arrest is to rely on your constitutional rights. Getting arrested can be a humiliating experience, especially if it happens in front of your family, friends, or coworkers. When the handcuffs are on your wrists, it can feel like you’ve already lost, but that’s not the case. You are always innocent until proven guilty.

Here are some steps you can take to handle yourself during and after a homicide arrest:

• Say nothing to the police: Above all, never say a word to the police. You have the right to remain silent, and the police cannot legally do anything to make you talk to them. They may be counting on you incriminating yourself, and they may even try to guilt or threaten you into admitting guilt. Say nothing, except to ask for your lawyer.
• Don’t consent to a search: You are protected from illegal search and seizure. To lawfully search you, your home, or your vehicle, law enforcement officers need a valid search warrant or probable cause that a crime has been committed. If they don’t have either of those, they need your consent to search, and you don’t have to give that consent. Insist on a warrant.
• Don’t discuss the case: It’s important that you avoid talking about your situation with anybody apart from your lawyer. Jail phone lines may be recorded. Other inmates may be willing to speak to the police as a witness. Social media posts can also be used as evidence. Don’t speak to anyone except your lawyer.
• Hire a homicide lawyer: As soon as you are able to make a phone call, contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately. You should hire someone who focuses on homicides or violent crimes. Be totally honest with them. They can’t do their job properly unless they know the facts and can create a proper defense strategy.
• Bond status: Bonds for homicide are generally very high or denied outright, depending on the severity of the offense and the evidence against you. For most severe charges, defendants tend to remain in jail until the case goes to trial or charges are dismissed.

FAQs About Nashville, TN Homicide Law

What Is Justifiable Homicide in Tennessee?

Justifiable homicide is a lawful killing through the use of self-defense, defense of another, or in order to prevent a violent crime. The use of force to protect yourself can excuse you from criminal liability, though an investigation is still done. For a homicide to be considered justifiable in Nashville, there has to be a reasonable fear of imminent danger, no duty to retreat, and proportional force. You should contact a defense lawyer immediately, even in justifiable cases.

What Are the Three Types of Homicide in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, homicide charges are generally separated into three distinct categories. There’s murder, which is the most serious charge and carries the death penalty. There’s manslaughter, which involves intentionally killing somebody while in a state of passion caused by provocation. Then, there’s negligent or reckless homicide, which involves causing someone’s death due to reckless actions, negligent actions, or vehicular homicide.

What Are the Penalties for Murder in Tennessee?

If you are convicted of murder in Tennessee, you could receive the death penalty, life imprisonment without parole, or a lengthy prison term similar to life, depending on the severity of the charge. If the murder can be reduced to a lesser homicide charge like voluntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, or criminally negligent homicide, you can still face significant prison time, but you most likely won’t face the death penalty.

What Is the Difference Between Murder and Homicide?

There is a distinct difference between murder and homicide. Homicide is the broad term for one person causing the death of another person. Murder is a specific type of homicide that involves intent to kill or extreme recklessness. While all murders are homicides, not all homicides are murders. The two terms are not interchangeable. If you are facing a homicide charge, your lawyer can help you determine if the charge is murder or something different.

Reach Out to Hire a Homicide Lawyer Today

It can be overwhelming and unpredictable to face a homicide charge. Nothing less than your freedom may be on the line for you, so it’s vital that you take every possible opportunity to protect and defend yourself. That starts with hiring the right lawyer to oversee your case. At The Law Office of Cesar Arbelaez, we can provide the help you need. Contact our firm to speak to someone on our team about your case.

Nashville, TN Homicide Law Resources:

• Franklin, TN Crime Rate – Latest Statistics
• Tennessee Crime Rate Statistics
• Murfreesboro, TN Crime Rates and Statistics
• Nashville, TN Crime Rates and Statistics
• What Are the Top Five Crimes Committed in Tennessee?
• What Is the Difference Between Parole and Probation in Tennessee?
• How Much Does a DUI Cost in Tennessee?

Serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee

When you’re facing criminal charges in Nashville or throughout Middle Tennessee, your future, freedom, and reputation hang in the balance. At the Law Office of Cesar Arbelaez, we understand that a conviction can devastate not only your life but also the lives of your family members. Our dedicated criminal defense attorney brings nearly a decade of experience fighting for clients accused of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies.

Based in Nashville and serving the greater Davidson County area, The Music City Defender has built a reputation for aggressive representation and strategic defense work that protects clients’ Constitutional rights at every stage of the criminal justice process. Whether you’re facing charges in Nashville’s municipal courts, Tennessee state courts, or federal court, our firm has the experience and resources necessary to mount a comprehensive defense tailored to the unique circumstances of your case.

Whether you’ve been arrested for a DUI on Broadway, charged with assault in downtown Nashville, accused of drug crimes, or facing any other criminal allegations in Middle Tennessee, partnering with a Nashville criminal defense lawyer who understands Tennessee’s criminal justice system and is prepared to fight relentlessly for your rights can be the decisive factor between conviction and freedom, between a ruined future and a second chance.