Former Nashville Police officer Andrew Delke on Friday accepted a plea deal to serve three years in prison for shooting and killing Daniel Hambrick, but the agreement infuriated members of Hambrick’s family, who yelled profanities.
Members of Hambrick’s family said they adamantly opposed the plea agreement. An attorney read a statement in court on behalf of Vickie Hambrick, who is Daniel Hambrick’s mother. The attorney, who did not seem to identify herself, said Vickie Hambrick was “angry, mad, and disgusted.”
“I am against the way the state and the defense joined hands to protect this racist, biased, anti-black criminal system,” the attorney said, speaking on behalf of Vickie Hambrick.
“My son was murdered on video by Nashville Police. My son has a right to a public jury trial. I want citizens of this community to render a judgement.”
The attorney, reading Vickie Hambrick’s letter, also said her client has contempt for the court system.
“I have contempt for this plea. I have contempt for the FOP [Fraternal Order of Police],” the attorney said.
“And I have a special contempt for Andrew Delke. May you all rot in hell.”
Minutes later, Vickie Hambrick approached the podium to speak. She yelled profanities at the attorneys who arranged the plea agreement and told them she hated them.
As she knocked down a wooden podium, she directed her wrath at Delke.
“You better watch your back in jail, mother *****. You better watch your mother ******* back. You better be scared.”
“I am going to get you mother ******.”
Court officials escorted family members out of the courtroom.
Delke, while accepting the plea deal, apologized and said no mother should lose a child.
“Not a day has gone by that I have not thought about my actions,” Delke said.
“I also recognize that my actions impacted the community and the police department. I hope this case can contribute positively to a much-needed discussion about how police officers are trained and how we as a community want police officers to interact with citizens.”
In 2019, a grand jury indicted Delke on a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting of Daniel Hambrick.
This was the first time officials had indicted an on-duty Nashville police officer for a fatal shooting. The shooting was fraught with racial undertones.
On the day Hambrick died, Metro Police had received notice of a stolen car. When they came upon it later, Hambrick fled from that suspected stolen vehicle. Delke shot Hambrick in the back three times during the foot pursuit. Police reports stated Hambrick refused to drop a firearm – specifically a 9mm Beretta pistol – at the time of his death. A firearm was recovered from the scene where Hambrick’s body fell.
At the time of his death, Hambrick had several pending criminal charges. Some of his prior convictions included felony aggravated robbery, misdemeanor assault, possession or casual exchange of controlled substances, and felon in possession of a firearm.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
The lame minded DA talked about how putting Delke in prison made Nashville a safer place. I totally disagree. The message to the criminals and their families is go ahead and commit your crimes. The message to police officers is back off or you will be publicly condemned then sent to prison. If by a far fetched chance your criminal child is killed by the police a parent can collect millions of dollars. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture? But what can one expect with Cooper as mayor?
Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed. And she didn’t have a gun!
The mother should have been arrested after her threats! Her criminal son CHOSE to commit crimes and run from police. He, like others, sealed his own fate. When a police officer says stop- then you need to stop. It is that simple.
The outburst from the family and their lawyers clearly demonstrates their total disregard for the law.
These people, just like family and lawyer of the person who shot the Metro officer on Brick Church Pike, think that the law should be used for their benefit and no one else’s.
These people clearly show the shit hole that Nashville has become.
Hambrick had a gun and had taken shots at the officer.
Therefore, I think the officer deserved no jail time PERIOD!
Again, this proves that Nashville is nothing more than a shit hole!
Ken is right, BUT, this is also the fault of a systemic societal failure, that “we” have allowed to happen!
“We” outsource our work to China or bring in migrants to work the farms. “We” pay people to stay home and not work. “We” then put fathers in jail for smoking something other than the approved leaf. “We” reward single mothers for having more kids, so they too can stay home. “We” have accepted the wholesale changing of the definition of words, of our believe systems and our values.
“We” are FAT, DUMB and (relatively) happy and instead of us maintaining control of our society, “we” have allowed government at all levels to take the reins!
The time for denial is over, it’s time that We the People take back control of this country!
Kevin, do not disagree with you in principle but with the stranglehold on greater Nashville held by leftwing liberals, and more moving in daily, who continue to get elected by those living off of the government I see little hope for Nashville. Copper and the loony council is the standard.
so…they wanted a trial so there was the possibility of a not guilty verdict?
Having had my own troubles with the law in my youth, I have instructed my son ‘to always obey a police officers commands.’ I have also instructed my son, that if and when he is ever pulled over, ‘provide his license, registration, proof of insurance, and shut his mouth!’
For a people that have struggled so hard for ‘civil rights,’ I am mystified as to why they do not take these granted ‘civil rights’ and use them. Is this a lack of good parenting? Should community leaders not teach this at the community center? Or better yet, are ‘civil rights’ not taught in public school?
Keep your mouth shut. It’s the 5th Amendment to our Constitution. It is a right of our civilization.
She should have been a better parent.
Those “parents” ought to be in jail and paying restitution to the community for sicking a dangerous criminal loose on society, yet once again, a police officer protecting society and defending himself from an armed criminal is convicted of a crime. Outrageous.