JUSTICE

Nashville Cop Charged With First-Degree Murder in Death of Black Man

Andrew Delke allegedly shot Daniel Hambrick three times in the back while he was running away.

A Nashville grand jury reportedly charged police officer Andrew Delke with first-degree murder for the death of Daniel Hambrick, who was shot three times in the back while he was running away last year. The Tennesseean reports that Delke’s lawyers claimed Hambrick was holding a handgun and their client was acting in self-defense. Hambrick, a black man, reportedly ran away from Delke, a white police officer, in a parking lot and ignored Delke’s commands to stop. However, Judge Melissa Blackburn reportedly determined Hambrick’s behavior “certainly didn’t justify (Delke’s) use of lethal force.” The 12 grand jurors reportedly could have dropped the case or indicted Delke on a lesser charge, but they opted to give him the most severe charge. Delke is reportedly the first Nashville police officer to be charged after an on-duty shooting.