Metro Nashville police say the third and final suspect in last summer’s Old Hickory killing is now in custody, offering a measure of closure in a case that rattled a quiet neighborhood. The suspect, Joshuajaniel Oliva‑Martinez, now 19, faces a criminal‑homicide petition in Juvenile Court for the shooting that killed 17‑year‑old Caleb Womack. The death of the McGavock High School student last July sparked months of detective work, candlelight gatherings, and calls for justice.
In a police statement and subsequent reporting, WSMV reports that Oliva‑Martinez was 17 at the time of the shooting and is now being held on the juvenile criminal‑homicide charge. The station notes that detectives view this arrest as the final piece in a multi‑month investigation into the Old Hickory shooting.
Case background
The shooting unfolded in the early hours of July 26, 2024, when multiple rounds hit a duplex on Bryan Street in Old Hickory. Womack was found inside the living room and later died at Skyline Medical Center. In a press release, the Metro Nashville Police Department said investigators believe the gunfire was targeted and that Womack had arrived home shortly before the shots were fired.
Investigations and earlier arrests
Two other teens, Kevin Crumpler and Johnathan Castellano, were arrested months after the killing and tied to the same probe. WSMV reports that Metro police said both were later tried in adult court and convicted of voluntary manslaughter last year.
Community reaction
Neighbors and friends quickly rallied after the July shooting, organizing a candlelight vigil to mourn Womack and press for answers. Coverage showed the heartbreak of Womack’s family, including his mother’s plea for justice and the neighborhood’s push for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. NewsChannel 5 reported on those gatherings and the family’s public statements.
Legal notes
Because Oliva‑Martinez was a juvenile at the time of the alleged offense, the case is proceeding in Juvenile Court, where access to files and records is tightly limited under Tennessee law. Tenn. Code § 37‑1‑153 generally restricts public inspection of juvenile court files and spells out only narrow exceptions.
What to watch
Any future court filings or a move to transfer the case to adult court would change how the proceedings are handled and what information becomes public. For now, police say Oliva‑Martinez is in custody, and the investigation remains active, with officials expected to provide further updates through juvenile‑court dockets and statements from Metro Nashville police and the district attorney’s office.
