Former Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officer Andrew Delke pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the July 26, 2018 fatal shooting of Daniel Hambrick, a 25-year-old man shot during a foot chase in North Nashville. Delke had previously faced a first-degree murder charge before accepting a plea deal in 2021.
This story is based on multiple sources, including NewsChannel 5 reporting on video released by the District Attorney, FOX 17 reporting on the criminal affidavit and plea, WPLN’s case timeline, and Metro Nashville’s official settlement announcement.
Reports And Investigation
According to reports citing the criminal affidavit, Delke was a member of the Metro Police Juvenile Task Force when he encountered a white Chevrolet Impala, followed it, learned it was not stolen, and continued following it “to see if he could develop a reason to stop the Impala.” Reports say Delke later mistook a different white four-door sedan for the vehicle he had been following in an apartment parking lot.
When Delke pulled into the lot, Daniel Hambrick ran. Reports say Delke chased Hambrick on foot and yelled commands. Delke told investigators he saw Hambrick with a gun. The criminal affidavit, as reported by FOX 17, said Delke stopped, assumed a firing position, aimed his service weapon, and fired four shots. Three shots struck Hambrick, and one struck a nearby building.
NewsChannel 5 reported that video from Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School, released by authorities, showed Hambrick running away when he was shot. The outlet also reported that there was no body-camera or dash-camera footage of the fatal shooting.
Allegations And Competing Accounts
Delke’s defense argued that he acted according to his training and Tennessee law in response to an armed person who did not drop a gun. Delke had said he feared Hambrick would shoot him.
Prosecutors rejected the justification for the shooting. WPLN reported that surveillance footage never showed Hambrick’s gun aimed at Delke, though WPLN also noted that about two seconds of the chase were not recovered.
Charges
Delke was charged after the shooting and later faced a first-degree murder charge. WPLN reported that he was the first Nashville police officer charged with murder for an on-duty shooting.
Conviction / Guilty Plea
In July 2021, Delke pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. A judge sentenced him to three years in jail. WPLN later reported that Delke was released in October 2022 after serving 18 months, with jail rules allowing time off for inmates without infractions.
Lawsuit And Civil Settlement
In March 2019, the Estate of Daniel Hambrick filed a federal civil-rights and Tennessee tort lawsuit against Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County and Andrew Delke. The complaint alleged that Metro and Delke were responsible for Hambrick’s death and included broader allegations about MNPD training and culture. Those lawsuit claims were allegations, not court findings.
Metro Nashville later announced a proposed $2.25 million settlement of the Estate’s civil claims. Under the settlement, Metro said the payment would be made in exchange for dismissal with prejudice of all claims against the Metropolitan Government and Officer Delke. Metro also stated that neither the Metropolitan Government nor Delke admitted wrongdoing or liability, and that there had been no court findings on the merits of the lawsuit.
Official Statements
In the settlement announcement, Metropolitan Director of Law Bob Cooper called the agreement “a fair resolution” and said continued litigation would be expensive, time-consuming, and risky. MNPD Chief John Drake said the settlement would avoid years of litigation while the department continued to focus on trust, partnerships, community engagement, and alternative policing strategies where possible.
WPLN reported that after Delke’s guilty plea, District Attorney Glenn Funk said the plea showed Hambrick did not need to die and that the shooting was not justified. Chief Drake also expressed condolences to Hambrick’s relatives after the plea.
Uncorroborated Claims
No uncorroborated claims are presented here as fact. Statements from Delke’s defense, prosecutors, Hambrick’s family, Metro Nashville, and civil attorneys are attributed to the source or legal posture in which they were made.
