Nashville eyes $2.3M settlement in fatal shooting

NASHVILLE — Nashville officials are seeking a $2.25 million settlement with the family of a Black man who was fatally shot by a white Nashville police officer from behind during a 2018 foot chase, Mayor John Cooper’s administration said in a news release Friday.

The city says its metro council has filed a resolution to resolve litigation in federal court against Nashville’s government and Officer Andrew Delke in the death of 25-yearold Daniel Hambrick.

Delke’s defense attorney, David Raybin, noted that the civil settlement would have no effect on the criminal case against the officer, who remains charged with first-degree murder in Hambrick’s death and is slated for a July trial.

The city said it and Delke aren’t admitting wrongdoing or liability with the settlement.

“We think this is a fair resolution for all of the parties,” Nashville Director of Law Bob Cooper said in the release. “Pursuing this matter through trial and appeal would have been expensive and time consuming with the risk of an adverse decision. The community is better served by bringing finality to this case.”

Police Chief John Drake, the second Black leader of Nashville’s force, plans to meet privately with Hambrick’s mother, Vicki Hambrick, after the settlement is approved, the release says.

As chief, Drake has promised continued efforts to improve community engagement and recruit more diverse candidates as officers.

“This settlement will avoid years of protracted litigation as our department continues its strong focus on building trust and partnerships … ,” Drake said in the release.