The son of Nashville’s police chief, who was on the run after the shooting of two police officers, is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said. The turn of events unfolded as he led law enforcement on a chase in a stolen vehicle, according to authorities.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake issued a statement on Wednesday, expressing his gratitude to the dedicated officers who diligently worked to locate his son, John Drake Jr., 38. The younger Drake had been accused of shooting and injuring two officers in the nearby city of La Vergne on Saturday.
“It was my prayer that no harm would come to him or anyone else,” said MNPD Chief Drake. “I am heartbroken and saddened by the outcome. I appreciate the condolences and kind words of support as my family and I privately mourn our loss.”
Chief Drake has issued this statement concerning Tuesday night’s death of his son, John Drake, Jr., age 38. pic.twitter.com/9hx4RM3f8z
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) October 25, 2023
Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron conveyed in a press conference on Tuesday night that the younger Drake forcibly took possession of a vehicle at gunpoint from a residence near downtown, around 6 p.m. When he was unable to secure a ride from a man and woman in front of a home, he resorted to brandishing a firearm and demanding the vehicle in the driveway.
Subsequently, officers spotted the stolen vehicle shortly thereafter and pursued it to the Edgehill area, where the vehicle ultimately crashed. Drake, desperate to evade capture, sought refuge in a shed behind a home. As officers encircled the area, a single gunshot reverberated, and Drake was found dead, Aaron said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, in a statement posted on social media, confirmed that officers found Drake deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The chain of events began on Saturday when Officers Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern were engaged in the investigation of a stolen vehicle outside a La Vergne Dollar General store, a city located approximately 20 miles southeast of Nashville. During their confrontation with the suspect, he produced a handgun and opened fire, injuring both officers. La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews confirmed the injuries, but thankfully, both officers were treated and subsequently released from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
