Topline
The search for John Drake Jr., the estranged son of Nashville’s police chief, has entered a second day Sunday after he was accused of shooting two police officers, the latest in a long line of criminal charges against him dating back almost two decades in Tennessee’s Davidson County.
These images provided by the City of La Vergne shows La Vergne Police Officers Ashely Boleyjack and … [+]
Key Facts
Nashville Chief of Police John Drake on Saturday called for the arrest of his son, 38-year-old John Drake Jr., after he allegedly shot two officers outside of a Dollar General at about 2:30 p.m. in La Vergne, about 20 miles southeast of Nashville.
One officer was shot in the shoulder and has been released from the hospital; the other was shot in his groin and forearm and was in stable condition as of Sunday afternoon, the Tennessean reported.
Drake Jr., who is wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting, is said to have fled the scene in a stolen car and had not yet been arrested as of 2 p.m. Sunday.
Drake said in a statement his son “resorted to years of criminal activity” starting in his teenage years and is now a convicted felon with whom he has had “very minimal contact over many years.”
Drake Jr.’s criminal history dates back to 2005, with 59 criminal charges in Davidson County since, WSMV, the Nashville NBC affiliate, reported.
He was convicted of aggravated rape in 2009 and charged with three different sex offender violations between 2015 and 2020, and has also been found guilty of aggravated burglary, resisting and evading arrest, domestic bodily injury, assault of domestic bodily injury, criminal impersonation and other charges.
John C. Drake Jr.
Crucial Quote
“My heart goes out to Chief Drake, his family, and the two wounded LaVergne police officers. I know that despite our best efforts — including in their early years — we can’t be responsible for the choices of family members,” Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said. “I support Chief Drake and stand by him at this difficult time.”
Big Number
10 years to life. First-degree attempted murder charges in Tennessee each come with a sentence of between 10 years and life in prison, if convicted. Those found guilty do have the possibility of parole.
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/10/22/who-is-john-drake-jr-what-to-know-about-the-missing-nashville-police-chiefs-son-accused-of-shooting-two-cops/