Tuesday evening, around 9 p.m., a jury in Tampa convicted 36-year-old Humberto Delgado, Jr. in the murder of Tampa Police Corporal Mike Roberts.
After deliberating for about six hours on Tuesday, the jury found Delgado guilty of first degree murder, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, carrying a concealed firearm and depriving an officer of means of communication.
During the trial, prosecutors said Delgado was pushing a shopping cart full of guns and that he used a .45 caliber pistol to shoot and kill Roberts, who stopped him in the Sulphur Springs community of Tampa.
But the defense painted a different picture of Delgado saying he has mental problems, hears voices and suffers from bi-polar disorder. They say he’d stopped taking his medication and couldn’t grasp reality.
Dozens of Tampa Police officers, as well as Chief Jane Castor, were in the courtroom when the verdict was read. The widow of Corporal Mike Roberts was visibly shaken when the verdict was read. She wiped tears from her face as Chief Castor tried to console her.
“She’s a very strong woman, as is the entire Roberts family, and they’ve sat through every piece of this trial word by word and you can imagine how difficult that is,” said Chief Castor.
Tampa Mayor, Bob Buckhorn released the following statement:
“While no verdict can bring back a wonderful father and husband, and a dedicated police officer, the verdict brings closure to a terrible chapter in our lives. Justice has been served, and we are thankful that the jury delivered it. My thoughts and prayers are with the Roberts family this evening.”
The jury will begin the penalty phase of the trial on Thursday morning at 8:45 a.m.
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