
In a chilling series of events unfolding in La Vergne, a suburb of Nashville, John Drake Jr., the 38-year-old son of Nashville’s Police Chief, was found dead on Tuesday night. The man, who was listed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s “most wanted” list and described as “armed and very dangerous,” was sought on charges of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly injuring two police officers during a conflict the preceding Saturday.
Resurfacing a few days later, Drake Jr allegedly commandeered a vehicle at gunpoint from a couple who had refused to offer him a ride. The drama continued into the night as he attempted to evade an impending arrest, leading the police in a high-speed chase. However, the pursuit ended abruptly when Drake Jr. crashed the stolen car and subsequently took refuge in a shed behind a home in downtown Nashville.
A heavy silence loomed as officers surrounded the property, before being broken by the eerie echo of a gunshot from within the shed. It was later confirmed that Drake Jr. had apparently ended his own life. The Nashville District Attorney General, Glenn Funk, has entrusted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
After the dreadful manhunt for the police chief’s son had finally concluded, La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews delivered a statement, “The La Vergne community and our heroic officers can rest easy tonight knowing that the manhunt for John Drake, Jr. is over.”
The reckless series of events, beginning on Saturday, was set in motion when Drake Jr. reportedly opened fire while the two injured officers were investigating a stolen vehicle. Officers Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern suffered gunshot wounds in the encounter, but have since been discharged from the hospital and are in stable condition.
Referring to his son as “estranged”, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake Sr. confirmed the suspect’s identity, sadly acknowledging his son’s long history of criminal activity despite his guidance and efforts. Today, a mourning father thanked law enforcement for their dedication, expressing his sorrow over his son’s fate and requesting privacy for the family at this time.
In spite of the shocking nature of the incident and the relentless chase, Drake Sr. was reported as saying “It was my prayer that no harm would come to him or anyone else.” A heartfelt sentiment shared by all those who believe in the prospect of redemption and reconciliation amid turmoil.