NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Court TV) — Decommissioned Nashville police officer Andrew Delke will stand trial for first-degree murder this July.
Delke is facing life in prison for the June 2018 shooting death of Daniel Hambrick. The victim was killed during a traffic stop that led to a foot chase, in which Delke reportedly fired multiple rounds at 25-year-old Hambrick as he ran away. Delke claims Hambrick was armed and “an imminent threat,” reports WTVF.
Delke’s trial could be impacted by the recent guilty verdict of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In April, a jury convicted Chauvin of the May 25, 2020, murder of George Floyd. Three more officers will stand trial for Floyd’s death in March 2021.
There are multiple similarities surrounding Delke and Chauvin’s cases. In March, Nashville officials approved a $2.25 million civil lawsuit settlement for the family of Hambrick. That same month, the city of Minneapolis agreed to pay Floyd’s family $27 million in a civil lawsuit. Both incidents were captured on video and both cases were denied a change of venue.
WTVF legal analyst Nick Leonardo says, “Neither the Chauvin case or Delke is a who done it. We know what happened.” Leonardo also says it’s possible Delke’s defense will argue he “acted according to the way he was trained.”
Delke has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond. Jury selection is scheduled to begin July 1.
