'I hate you': Mother of black man shot dead by white cop screams at him in court as he pleads guilty to manslaughter in plea deal and gets a three year sentence - after initially being charged with first-degree murder
The mother of a black man who was fatally shot by a Nashville cop was restrained during Friday's emotional court appearance when he pleaded guilty to killing her son.
Andrew Delke, 27, who was the first Nashville police officer ever charged with murder in an on-duty shooting, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal and will serve three years in prison.
He gunned down Daniel Hambrick, 25, during a foot pursuit in 2018.
Hambrick's mom, Vickie, is seen in court photos being held back after lunging at Delke during Friday's court appearance.
'I hate you,' she screamed at Delke.
The proceeding was temporarily paused until emotions calmed and ordered was restored.
Despite the anger and frustration on Hambrick's side of the courtroom, a police officer being charged, found guilty and getting prison time is a rarity.
'The reality is tonight for the first time ever a Nashville officer is going to bed in jail for killing a black man,' District Attorney General Glenn Funk told The Tennessean. 'Nashville officers now know they will be held accountable for their actions.'
Vickie Hambrick was restrained in court on Friday while the Nashville police officer who fatally shot her son, Daniel, pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Vickie Hambrick enters the courtroom on Friday
Andrew Delke (left), who is no longer with the Nashville Police Department, will serve three years in prison and avoids going to trial for murder
Daniel Hambrick, 25, was fatally shot by a Nashville police officer during a foot chase in 2018
Vickie and Hambrick's supporters had been opposed to the plea deal, which was finalized less than two weeks before Delke's murder trial was set to begin.
Joy Kimbrough, who's representing Hambrick's family, said on Thursday that Vickie was never contacted about the plea deal until after it was agreed to.
Delke shot Hambrick three times after he ran from a traffic stop on July 26, 2018. Hambrick was armed at the time.
Delke had been following a 'suspicious' white Chevrolet Impala initially stopped at a stop sign, according to CNN. Delke ran plates and found it wasn't stolen, but followed it anyway 'to see if he could develop a reason to stop the Impala.'
Hambrick was in the area at the time when Delke mistook his car for the Impala and pulled up in the parking lot. Hambrick ran and can be seen being gunned down from behind on a surveillance video.
'My son was murdered on video by Nashville police. My son has a right. He has a right to a public jury trial. I want citizens of this community to render a judgment,' Vickie Hambrick said in the victim impact statement that Kimbrough read.
'There is not one hour that goes by that I do not think of Daniel,' she said in her statement.
All the anger and emotion came rushing back to Vickie while she was in the courtroom as she tried knock over the prosecution's table and raged into an expletive-laden rant, the Tennessean reported.
'There is a void in me that cannot be filled. Nothing and no one compares to my precious son. I am angry, mad and disgusted but I pray that no other mother have to endure what I've endured these last three years,' she said in her statement that her lawyer read when the proceeding resumed.
Vickie Hambrick is comforted by family members as their attorney Joy Kimbrough reads victim impact statements in court on Friday
Sheila Clemmons-Lee addresses the media in Nashville after Andrew Delke pleaded guilty to manslaughter on July 2
During former Nashville police officer's statement to the judge, Delke agreed with the court that 'shooting was not reasonably necessary'
On July 26, 2018, Delke was caught on video shooting a fleeing Hambrick, who was armed
Delke, who's long with the Nashville Police Department, read a statement in court saying he agreed with prosecutors that 'shooting was not reasonably necessary' and there were other options.
'Mrs. Hambrick lost her son that day and I am responsible for her loss,' Delke said. 'I am deeply sorry for the harm my actions caused.'
District Attorney Funk said he was ready to go to trial but told The Tennessean the plea deal is 'appropriate' and 'what's best for Nashville.'
'Daniel Hambrick's life is worth more than three years. But it's all of the facts in this case that make this the right disposition,' he said. 'Incarceration is primarily a deterrent to future crime. What I'm hoping is that this deters future unjustified killings.'
'Mrs. Hambrick lost her son that day and I am responsible for her loss,' Delke said. 'I am deeply sorry for the harm my actions caused'
