Tennessee officials confirmed on Tuesday that the estranged son of the Nashville police chief, who was wanted in connection with the shooting of two officers, has been found dead following a four-day manhunt.
John Drake Jr., 38, was wanted in connection with the Saturday shooting that left officers Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern injured outside a Dollar General store in La Vergne, a town about 20 miles southeast of Nashville. Authorities had classified him as armed and dangerous, and a $2,500 reward had been offered for information regarding his whereabouts.
In their search for Drake, authorities responded to a location on 15th Avenue South in Nashville on Tuesday night. They reported hearing a “muffled gunshot from an outbuilding” and found Drake deceased from “what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” according to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). TBI special agents will investigate Drake’s death, and a comprehensive autopsy will be performed.
Drake is the son of Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake, and their relationship was described as “estranged.” Chief John Drake expressed his shock and sadness, mentioning that he had minimal contact with his son over the years.
In a statement on Saturday, Chief John Drake said, “I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn that my estranged son, with whom I have had very minimal contact over many years, is the suspect in this afternoon’s shooting of the two La Vergne police officers.” He added that his son had a history of criminal activity and was a convicted felon who had not been a part of his life for a considerable time.
The Saturday shooting incident occurred when the two officers were investigating a stolen vehicle. A struggle ensued when they made contact with the suspect, during which Drake produced a firearm and opened fire, as explained by La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews. One officer sustained a gunshot wound to the rear left shoulder, while the other officer suffered injuries to the right groin and right forearm. Both officers were reported to be in stable condition.
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In a statement on Tuesday night, Chief Moews remarked, “The La Vergne community and our heroic officers can rest easy tonight knowing that the manhunt for John Drake, Jr. is over.” He also expressed condolences to Chief Drake and his family.