LA VERGNE, TN – In a shocking incident, the estranged son of Nashville’s Chief of Police, John C. Drake, opened fire on two police officers outside a Dollar General store on Saturday. The suspect, John C. Drake, 38, then fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, leaving the officers wounded. The shooting occurred in La Vergne, a city located approximately 20 miles southeast of Nashville, under the jurisdiction of Chief John Drake.
Chief Drake, in a statement, expressed his minimal recent contact with his son and disclosed that John Drake Jr. had a history of criminal activity and was a convicted felon. He implored the public to assist in locating his son and holding him accountable for the shooting. The younger Drake allegedly fired a handgun during a confrontation with the officers, who were responding to a report of a stolen vehicle.
One officer, with only one-and-a-half years on the force, sustained gunshot wounds in the right groin and right forearm, while the second officer, on the verge of celebrating his third year of service, suffered a gunshot wound to the rear left shoulder. Both of the officers were transported to a nearby hospital. According to reports, they are now in stable condition.
John Drake Jr. managed to escape in the suspected stolen car, and a lockdown was imposed in the area, with residents advised to stay indoors and secure their homes. The lockdown, which lasted for approximately 11 hours, was eventually lifted, but the fugitive remains at large. Authorities have warned that he is considered armed and dangerous.
John Drake Jr. has an extensive criminal record, with 59 criminal charges in Davidson County since 2005, not including La Vergne. His criminal history began at the age of 20, with charges including theft, weapon possession, assault, drug offenses, burglary, and multiple sex offender violations, including aggravated rape. His most recent charge was in April for assault causing bodily injury.