NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nashville Fraternal Order of Police released their first video as part of a digital campaign in defense of former Metro officer Andrew Delke.
Delke has been charged with first-degree murder in the July 26, 2018 shooting of Daniel Hambrick. He's the first Metro officer to face charges in an on-duty shooting.
In the video released by the FOP on Thursday, a man shoots a melon to show the power of the weapon that Hambrick was allegedly carrying on the day he was killed by Delke.
In a statement released announcing the new video, the FOP said:
“The Nashville FOP is running this digital campaign to set the record straight and counter the large number of outright lies and mistruths that continue to be spread on social media and in some news coverage."
Joy Kimbrough, an attorney for Daniel Hambrick's family, says she believes the campaign is an attempt to poison a potential jury pool.
Nashville attorney Jim Todd says prosecutors may have the right to ask for an outside jury, given the kind of campaign from the FOP, but Todd says the big question would be, where the jury would come from.
"A jury from Hamilton county or Knox county -- generally you get one from the urban areas -- or Shelby county are drastically different, and so depending on where you go, it's 'be careful what you wish for'," Todd said.
The release of this video comes just days after the family of Daniel Hambrick announced they had filed a $30 million lawsuit against the Metro Nashville Police Department.
The claim states "Mr. Hambrick suffered physical, legal, emotional, and financial harm by being gunned down, left to die in the grass, and killed."
Surveillance videos from Metropolitan Development and Housing Ageancy (MDHA) and Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School were also shown. They captured not only the foot pursuit but also the moment Hambrick was shot several times in the back as he was running away from Delke. The original video that captured the shooting was originally zoomed out.
Graphic Video: Daniel Hambrick Shot While Running Away
Prosecutor Ronald Dowdy asked TBI Agent Steven Kennard if it was physically possible for Hambrick to turn around and point the gun at Delke while sprinting. In his response, Kennard said, "I think it would be very difficult to certainly stop but even slow up, turn around to face somebody and as Delke stated 'spin around to face me' in that period of time and then start back up and be at a full sprint when he comes back from the other side."
A status hearing for this case will be held on April 14, 2019.
READ MORE:
Daniel Hambrick’s family files $30M lawsuit against Nashville, officer charged in shooting
Judge rules to seal evidence in Andrew Delke murder case
Andrew Delke, Metro officer charged with murder, enters not guilty plea
Protesters demand Officer Delke be fired; File complaints in Hambrick shooting
