Man Charged in November 2022 South Nashville Murder

Nearly four years of investigation into the November 19, 2022, murder of Pablo Ical-Caz, 19, in the parking lot of Southern Hills Condominiums at 370 Wallace Road, a combination of ballistic science and unrelenting detective work has led to a criminal homicide charge against Deshawn Joyner, 35. Joyner, who was already in the Metro Jail for an unrelated robbery case, was booked during the night for Ical-Caz’s murder.

In the early morning hours of November 19, 2022, officers and firefighters responded to a report of a blue Kia that was engulfed in flames. Ical-Cruz was removed from the driver’s seat. He had been shot and had extensive burns. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A few days later, officers recovered a semi-automatic pistol during a traffic stop. Microscopic analysis of that gun by MNPD Crime Lab scientists showed that it fired the round that hit Ical-Caz. The man who possessed the gun in the traffic stop later told detectives that he bought the gun on the street. Follow up investigation led to the identification of Joyner as the seller. He denied responsibility for the murder when he was interviewed in 2023, although he did acknowledge selling the gun.

New interviews with witnesses this month led to the identification of a man who reported being with Joyner on the night of the murder. That man said Joyner killed Ical-Caz in relation to a dispute involving a woman.

Joyner’s bond on the murder charge is set at $1 million.

Homicide Sergeant Madison Meiss and Detective Cooper Gauldin are leading this investigation.