Homicide A Team Who Will Tenaciously Defend You Every Step of the Way

Homicide Attorney in Nashville

Criminal Defense Representation from Charge Through Trial

A homicide charge is among the most serious accusations Tennessee law allows. The consequences range from years in prison to life without parole or, in first-degree murder cases, the death penalty. At May McKinney, our attorneys bring nearly 80 years of collective criminal defense experience to Nashville homicide cases, and our practice is devoted entirely to criminal defense. We’ve handled murder, second-degree murder, and vehicular homicide charges for clients across Nashville and throughout Tennessee, approaching each case by understanding the person behind it, not just the charges on paper.

Time is a factor from the moment of arrest or even investigation. Early intervention can preserve evidence, limit damage from statements made to police, and shape the entire trajectory of the defense. The sooner we’re involved, the more we can do.

If you or a family member is facing homicide charges in Nashville, contact May McKinney today at (615) 265-6383 for a confidential consultation.

What May McKinney Brings to Nashville Homicide Defense

Our attorneys don’t run homicide cases through a standard playbook. Every case carries its own facts, its own history, and its own circumstances that may have contributed to the situation our client now faces. That full picture shapes the defense strategy we build.

We evaluate every available option to pursue a favorable outcome. That includes scrutinizing whether law enforcement violated constitutional rights during the arrest, search, or interrogation, and whether any resulting evidence can be suppressed. It includes drawing on qualified expert witnesses to challenge forensic evidence or offer alternative explanations. And when the right path is trial, we’re prepared to go. Our representation isn’t conditional on a plea being available.

Prosecutors in Davidson County Criminal Court are aggressive in homicide cases. Effective defense demands attorneys who match that intensity, know the local court environment, and are prepared at every stage from pre-trial motions through verdict.

Defense Strategies We Examine in Homicide Cases

The strategy in any homicide defense depends on the specific facts, but several core areas of analysis apply across most cases.

Identification & Evidence Disputes
We examine how law enforcement linked our client to the crime. Eyewitness reliability, forensic evidence, and chain-of-custody issues all receive close scrutiny. If the state’s case rests on questionable identification, that can become a focus of the defense.

Constitutional Violations
Illegal searches, Miranda violations, and improper interrogation tactics can render evidence inadmissible. We evaluate every step of the investigation for constitutional deficiencies that could affect what the prosecution can use at trial.

Expert Testimony
Tennessee homicide prosecutions often turn heavily on forensic evidence. We work with independent experts to challenge the state’s forensic conclusions and, where appropriate, present alternative interpretations.

Self-Defense & Defense of Others
Tennessee law recognizes self-defense and defense of others as affirmative defenses when a person reasonably believes deadly force was necessary to prevent death or serious injury. When the facts support this defense, we build it fully.

Challenging Intent
First-degree murder requires proof of premeditation. Second-degree murder requires a knowing killing. Successfully contesting the mental state the prosecution attributes to our client can affect both the charge and the potential sentence range.

Charge Reduction
Overcharging occurs in high-profile homicide cases. We assess whether the evidence actually supports the charge brought or whether a reduction is warranted, and we pursue that argument when the facts allow it.

Talk to a Nashville Homicide Lawyer Today

At May McKinney, we’ve fought for clients during the most difficult periods of their lives. Our goal in every case is to pursue the most advantageous outcome possible while protecting our client’s rights throughout the process.

Confidential consultations are available for those facing homicide charges in Nashville and across Tennessee. Don’t wait to get counsel involved. Call May McKinney now at (615) 265-6383.

Tennessee Homicide Charges Under TCA 39-13-201

Tennessee defines criminal homicide as the unlawful killing of another person. Under TCA 39-13-201, that definition covers five distinct offenses, each carrying different elements and dramatically different penalties. What separates them is the mental state, known legally as mens rea, attributed to the defendant at the time of the killing.

Every criminal homicide charge in Tennessee is a felony carrying a Tennessee Department of Correction sentence and a permanent felony record. There are no misdemeanor homicide offenses under state law.

First-Degree Murder
A premeditated and intentional killing, or a killing that occurs during certain serious felonies under the felony murder rule. This is the most severe charge, carrying life imprisonment without parole, life with parole eligibility after serving 51 years, or the death penalty.

Second-Degree Murder
A knowing killing, classified as a Class A felony. The sentencing range is 15 to 60 years.

Voluntary Manslaughter
An intentional or knowing killing committed in a state of passion produced by adequate provocation sufficient to lead a reasonable person to act irrationally. It’s a Class C felony carrying 3 to 15 years.

Reckless Homicide
Defined under TCA 39-13-215 as a reckless killing, this is a Class D felony with a sentencing range of 2 to 12 years.

Criminally Negligent Homicide
Defined under TCA 39-13-212, this is a Class E felony carrying 1 to 6 years and involves a failure to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that resulted in death.

How Nashville Homicide Cases Move Through Davidson County Criminal Court

All felony homicide charges in Nashville are prosecuted in Davidson County Criminal Court. Understanding the process helps defendants and their families know what to expect and why early legal involvement matters at each stage.

Cases typically begin with arrest and an initial appearance before a magistrate, where bail is addressed. From there, the case proceeds either through a preliminary hearing in General Sessions Court or directly to grand jury indictment. Once indicted, the defendant is arraigned in Criminal Court and enters a plea.

Pre-trial motions are one of the most consequential phases in homicide defense. Suppression motions can exclude evidence obtained through unconstitutional searches or improper interrogations. Motions challenging forensic procedures can limit what the jury sees at trial. A defendant has the right to remain silent from the moment of arrest, and statements made to law enforcement before an attorney is present can significantly shape the prosecution’s case.

Nashville homicide investigations frequently involve the Metro Nashville Police Department and, depending on the case, state or federal agencies. Early attorney involvement can directly affect how those investigative contacts are managed.

Vehicular Homicide in Tennessee

Vehicular homicide under TCA 39-13-213 is the reckless killing of another person resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. The bases for the charge include reckless driving, DUI intoxication, drag racing, and conduct in a posted construction zone that results in the death of a transportation or highway construction worker. Sentencing consequences differ significantly by basis.

Reckless-driving-based vehicular homicide is generally a Class C felony, carrying 3 to 15 years. Drag racing falls under the same Class C classification. When the charge rests on DUI intoxication, it becomes a Class B felony with a range of 8 to 30 years. A construction zone death is a Class D felony. Prior DUI convictions can increase penalties further under Tennessee’s truth-in-sentencing provisions.

The prosecution must prove both recklessness and a direct causal link between the driving conduct and the death. Challenging either element is central to the defense. That analysis can involve accident reconstruction, scrutiny of blood or breath testing procedures, and examination of whether the driver’s conduct actually met the legal threshold for recklessness. We’ve handled vehicular homicide charges alongside more serious homicide allegations, and the same individualized approach applies to every case we take.

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Our Clients Say It Best

Read Our Client Testimonials

Facing a homicide charge means facing one of the hardest situations a person or family can encounter. The attorneys at May McKinney have stood with clients through those moments and worked to pursue outcomes that protected their futures. If you need a Nashville homicide lawyer, we’re ready to listen and get to work. Call us at (615) 265-6383 to schedule a confidential consultation.

"Forever Grateful"
My family will always be grateful to you.

- Satisfied Client
"Rob McKinney in an amazing attorney he will always be my first choice!"
I seriously can’t give this guy enough credit! I’ve made a few bad choices in my lifetime before I got it together and I’ve had rob mckinney represent me for most of it. No doubt at all that he’s the best man for the job. He’s got me the best possible outcome and always went above and beyond for me every step of the way. Rob is such a genuine person and truly cares! If you’re looking for a great lawyer look no further mr. McKinney is your guy!

- Josh woods
"Amazing service"
Rob McKinney is the best criminal attorney in Nashville area. I had 7 cases and he got them dismissed right away! He made the trip to Clarksville from Nashville and saved me from loosing my green card. His experience, his dedication, knowledge and caring heart is unmatched. I am forever grateful!

- PF
"Best criminal lawyer in Nashville."
I have met with Mr. McKinney during a very difficult time. I was welcomed with open arms. Aside from being the best lawyer, he is a very caring person. He accomplished the impossible in my case. He worked relentlessly and brought my charges down from a serious felony to a misdemeanor. Which is unheard of from what I understand. I would have faced deportation but with his expertise and commitment to my case now I can become a citizen. Rob McKinney and his team gave me a second chance in life! For that I am forever grateful.

- Pinar James
"We Owe You"
We owe you so much for helping us and our son. We appreciate your legal expertise and support you gave our son this April.

- Melissa & Alan
"Knowledgeable, Kind & Real"
Her recommendations on how to proceed were spot on, and we got a favorable outcome.

- Satisfied Client
"Do not give up hope"
Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation to Rob McKinney and his entire law firm. This was my first experience with needing legal representation. After speaking with other attorneys, I was told that there was not much they could be do for me. I was fully aware that the odds were stacked against me and I was losing hope. Mr. McKinney told me that he would fight for me and that is exactly what he did. I could not have asked for a better outcome. I highly recommend this firm

- Anonymous
"Mr. McKinney is listed with Super Layers for a reason!"
In the darkest and most ashamed moment of my life, Mr. McKinney with all of his kindness, encouragement, and unsurpassed knowledge for the Tennessee law was by my side. I am nearly 60 years old and never had a conflict in my life, let alone one that involved an uncontrollable emotional reaction, that resulted in a physical altercation. Yet under the influence of prescribed drugs for insomnia, anxiety management, and alcohol, I made a grave mistake which resulted in Class C Aggravated Assault Felony Charge. To complicate matters, I am not a resident of Tennessee. It goes without saying that Mr. McKinney has earned the utmost respect as a top tier lawyer from the Tennessee court system. He was able to professionally articulate my case to the court, emphasizing that I risk losing employment, showed that I voluntarily turned myself in, and that I was a first-time offender. The court listened to him and as a result he was able to negotiate terms that far exceeded my expectations. I spent a lot of time between my arrest and court appearance researching the standard outcomes for an aggravated assault charge in the State of Tennessee, and based on what I read, I expected the worst judgement to be passed down. Mr. McKinney however worked with the court system to not impose jailtime and an opportunity to have the charges expunged from my record. I know that I will forever be ashamed and grieve over the event, but he was able to provide me with the opportunity to work the rest of my life making this right to the victim, my family, and others that were emotionally impacted. Mr. McKinney is worth his weight in gold. He knows the law. He is respected. He is highly skilled as a lawyer. He is the very best. I only wish I met and got to know of him under better circumstances.

- SB

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Why Choose May McKinney?

A Firm Committed to You, Your Case & Your Future

Nearly 80 Years of Combined Experience
Our accomplished attorneys bring almost eight decades of combined criminal defense experience.
Educated In Our Field
Our team believes in ongoing training in the criminal defense field. Our attorneys are educated in the latest forensic science technology and Attorney Riddle is Trauma Certified.
A Team Approach
Our attorneys work each case as a unit, which is extremely beneficial to our clients. No matter the case size, it's integral to get the experience and knowledge of a team.
An Aggressive Defense
When you choose May McKinney, you are choosing a team that will fight tooth and nail for your rights, your freedom, and your future.