The son of Nashville’s police chief, who was accused of shooting two police officers, has been found dead after a multiday manhunt in Tennessee. John C. Drake, Jr., 38, was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Nashville on Tuesday night. Drake, who was considered armed and dangerous, was wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder. He was the estranged son of Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake.
The younger Drake had carjacked a man and a woman at gunpoint, leading officers to pursue him. During a struggle outside a Dollar General store in La Vergne, Drake allegedly pulled out a gun and shot both officers. The officers, identified as Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern, were hospitalized and are currently in stable condition.
Chief John Drake confirmed that his estranged son was a suspect in the shooting, stating that his son had not been a part of his life for quite some time. Drake Jr.’s criminal record includes prior arrests and convictions, including rape and other sex offenses.
The La Vergne Police Chief, Christopher Moews, expressed gratitude to the officers involved in the pursuit and extended condolences to Chief Drake and his family. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating Drake’s death, and a full autopsy will be conducted.
