UPDATED 4/23 at 2:40 p.m.
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor released this statement in response to the Florida Supreme Court reducing the death sentence for Humberto Delgado Jr. to life without parole for killing police Cpl. Mike Roberts in 2009:
"We respect the justice system and those who have to make tough decisions.
Regardless of the conclusion, it doesn't bring Mike back and it doesn't relieve the pain that his wife, son and his TPD family feel. His life sentence will still ensure he is held accountable for his actions."
ORIGINAL POST 4/23 at 2:00 p.m.
A man who killed a Tampa police officer in 2009 will have his death sentence reduced to life without parole.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a death sentence wasn't appropriate for Humberto Delgado Jr., who fatally shot Tampa police Cpl. Mike Roberts on August 19, 2009.
The court said aggravating circumstances in the case were disproportional to mitigating circumstances, which included Delgado's mental state when he committed the crime.
Delgado had pushed a shopping cart 15 miles on his way to a veterans' shelter when Roberts stopped to question him. Delgado ran and Roberts used a stun gun on him. Roberts was shot during a scuffle that followed.
Delgado had suffered from mental health issues for years, including psychotic episodes in which he thought police were trying to kill him.
