The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Blue Alert late Saturday night for the “estranged son” of Nashville Police Chief John Drake, who is suspected of shooting two La Vergne police officers outside a store in the Nashville suburb earlier in the day.
John C. Drake Jr., 38, was also added to TBI’s most wanted list. He was last seen heading north from the Dollar General in LaVergne wearing a hat, a black t-shirt with a white hockey mask emblem and red lettering on the front, and gray pants. TBI described him as 5 feeet 11 inches tall and 195 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
La Vergne police said two officers were called to the store at about 2:30 Saturday afternoon to investigate a stolen vehicle that was spotted by a license plate reader. The officers ended up in a struggle with Drake Jr., who pulled out a handgun and shot Officers Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern.
Drake is 38 y/o. He’s 5’11”, weighs 195 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen in LaVergne in the area of Stones River Road near Lake Forest Drive, wearing back t-shirt with hockey mask graphic.
Call TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND if you know where he is. pic.twitter.com/tjNeDBAKjb
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) October 22, 2023
Boleyjack was treated and released at Vanderbilt Medical Center, while Kern was kept overnight for observation. He was reported to be in stable condition on Sunday, WKRN reported.
Police Chief Drake released a statement Saturday night saying he was “shocked and saddened” to hear that his “estranged son” was the suspect.
“Despite my efforts and guidance in the early and teenage years, my son, John Drake Jr., now 38-years-old, resorted to years of criminal activity and is a convicted felon,” the chief said. “He has not been a part of my life for quite some time. He now needs to be found and held accountable for his actions today. I hope that anyone who sees him or has information about him will contact law enforcement immediately.”
TBI said that Drake Jr. is now wanted for two counts of attempted first degree murder and should be considered “armed and dangerous.”
Anyone with information should call the LVPD at 615-793-7744 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
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[Featured image: Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern/La Vergne Police Department]
