Police officer charged with murder after video shows him shooting black man in the back

Andrew Delke killed Daniel Hambrick during foot chase in North Nashville in July 2018

A Nashville police officer has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge after footage showed him shooting a black man in the back.

Andrew Delke, a white officer, is one step closer to facing an unprecedented criminal trial over the fatal shooting of Daniel Hambrick during a foot chase in North Nashville in July 2018.

Surveillance footage from the incident showed Mr Delke chasing Hambrick after spotting him at a car park of an apartment building while looking for stolen vehicles in the area.

During his pursuit, Mr Delke noticed Hambrick was armed and gave him several verbal commands, including: “Drop the gun or I'll shoot,” the police warrant obtained by CNN states.

When Hambrick continued to run, the officer aimed his gun and fired four times. Hambrick fell to the ground after being struck in the back of his head, his back and the left torso.

This is the first time an on-duty Nashville police officer has been charged following an on-duty shooting.

District Attorney Glenn Funk decided to pursue a criminal homicide charge after reviewing evidence collected by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

“There were a number of options that were available,” Mr Funk said during the hearing, suggesting Mr Delke could have stopped or sought cover.

Mr Delke’s lawyer David Raybin said he planned to plead not guilty and “will continue to defend himself on the basis that he acted in accordance with his training and Tennessee law in response to an armed suspect who ignored repeated orders to drop his gun.”

However, activists insist Hambrick's death was a prime example of racial bias within the police force.

Nashville Organized for Action and Hope, a faith-based coalition that advocates for police reforms, praised prosecutors for taking the case to the grand jury.

The group, known as NOAH, said in a statement: “No one is above the law. Officer Delke should stand trial just like anyone else would have to under these circumstances — so that a jury can determine his guilt or innocence.”

Mr Delke is expected to be arraigned on the first-degree murder charge later this month.

He is still employed by the Metro Nashville Police Department but has been put on administrative assignment while the case is pending.