Humberto Delgado Jr., convicted of killing Tampa Police Corporal Mike Roberts, sentenced to death

TAMPA - Humberto Delgado Jr., who shot and killed Tampa Police Corporal Mike Roberts in 2009, was sentenced to death Friday morning.

Last year, Delgado was found guilty of the 2009 murder of Tampa Police Cpl. Mike Roberts. The jury recommended that he be sentenced to death in an 8-4 vote.

Delgado had four guns in his shopping cart and an unstable appearance on August 19, 2009, the day Cpl. Roberts stopped him.

They got into a struggle and Delgado shot Roberts with a .38 caliber gun.

Delgado, who was formerly in the Army and an ex-police officer, had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suffered from paranoia.

Witnesses who took the stand said he thought many different people wanted to "get him," including rapper 50 Cent.

But the prosecution argued that he knew right from wrong, and the jury agreed.

Roberts is survived by his wife, Cindy Roberts, and his young son. Ms. Roberts spoke at the sentencing hearing, and had strong words for her husband's killer.

"I hope when your time comes, you also choke on your own blood," she said.

Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor extended her support to the fallen officer’s family.

"We will be there for Mike. We will be there for his family. We stand united against the criminal element of our society every day to keep our citizens safe. When that results in the death of one of our own, it is important for us to come together as a family like any other family during a time of tragedy,” she said.