The man accused of killing a Tampa, FL, police officer Wednesday evening is a former police officer himself, from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Humberto Delgado, 34, was arrested Thursday morning in Tampa and charged with first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and carrying a concealed firearm in the shooting death of Cpl. Mike Roberts, a decorated, 11-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department.
According to V.I. Police public information officer Melody Rames, Delgado served as an officer for the department from April 24, 1996, to Oct. 23, 2000, when he resigned.
Delgado also was a former private first class for the U.S. Army. He joined Aug. 3, 2004, and served until Dec. 29, 2005, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Richard McNorton.
According to a news report written by Samara Sodos of The Tampa Tribune and posted on the paper’s website, tbo.com, this is how the shooting took place.
At about 10 p.m. Wednesday Roberts responded to a report of a suspicious man pushing a shopping cart full of items in a Tampa neighborhood where several burglaries have taken place recently.
Roberts confronted the man and a fight ensued. Roberts tried to use his Taser on the suspect, who fled across the street. When Roberts chased and tackled him, police said Delgado pulled out a pistol and hit Roberts on the head with it. Delgado then shot Roberts, according to police. Roberts was wearing a protective vest, but the bullet went through an exposed area under his arm.
Delgado ran back to the shopping cart and grabbed a canvas bag as another officer arrived. Delgado allegedly pulled an AR-15 assault rifle from the bag and aimed it at the second officer. Delgado then fled while the officer stayed to assist Roberts, police said.
Hillsborough Fire Rescue paramedics worked on Roberts, but he died about an hour later at Tampa General Hospital.
Delgado was arrested Thursday morning after being tracked by a police dog to the backyard of a nearby residence. He had three pistols and an assault rifle in his possession when arrested, police said. The shopping cart contained military-type gear and numerous ammunition magazines for the guns. Delgado had a receipt saying the guns were purchased in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Roberts recently had been promoted from the department’s K-9 unit and just Wednesday took a position with the hit-and-run squad, where he was on track to become a detective. He received a lifesaving award in 2005 and his record includes dozens of letters of appreciation from citizens. A veteran of both the Air Force and Army, he is survived by his wife and 3-year-old son.
According to the Tribune, this is the seventh homicide in the city of Tampa this year.