ROCKVALE, Tenn. – A murder arrest warrant has gone out charging a Murfreesboro man as the gunman in the shooting death of a Nashville missing person.
Detectives said 20-year-old James J. Simmons was already incarcerated in the Rutherford County Jail for violating his probation, and he was being booked in the murder case.
Luis Diaz, age 23, was last seen leaving his job at Sonic on Murfreesboro Pike July 7. His body was found Wednesday dumped in Rockvale, and his vehicle, a Hummer, was discovered Monday in Kentucky.
Authorities said Simmons’ co-defendant, 22-year-old Joshua A. Smith, set up a drug deal with Diaz and the two met him in the parking lot of a grocery store on Old Smith Springs Road.
Officials said they believe Simmons and Smith traveled in Diaz’s Hummer to a home on Anderson Road where Simmons allegedly killed Diaz.
Smith worked with Diaz at Sonic and was arrested and charged with murder Thursday night.
Previous Story: Suspect Accused In Fatal Drug-Related Shooting
