The son of Nashville’s top police officer involved in the shooting of two police officers has been found dead after carjacking a couple at gunpoint and leading police on a chase, authorities said.
Officers were approaching John C. Drake Jr., 38, late Tuesday when they heard muffled gunfire coming from an outbuilding and later found the attempted homicide suspect dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.
The agency will investigate Drake’s death at the request of District Attorney Glenn Funk and a full autopsy will be performed as part of the investigation.
Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said Police Chief John Drake’s son, who has an extensive criminal history, stole a car at gunpoint from a home southeast of downtown Tuesday afternoon, WSMV-TV reported.
The younger Drake asked a man and woman in front of a house for a ride and, when they refused, he pulled out a gun and grabbed them in the driveway before speeding away.
Officers spotted the stolen gold Chrysler 200 a short time later and followed it to the Edgehill area south of the city centre, where it crashed.
John C. Drake Jr., son of Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake, was found dead by suicide on Tuesday. Nashville Police Department via AP La Vergne Police Officers Ashely Boleyjack and Gregory Kern were shot by a suspect while investigating a stolen vehicle. City of La Vergne via AP
Drake fled on foot to a shed behind the home and as officers closed in, shots rang out, Aaron said.
The 38-year-old fugitive faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting a pair of police officers outside a Dollar General store in La Vergne on Saturday afternoon.
Photo released by the La Vergne Police Department of the suspect at the scene of the shooting. La Vergne Police Department
Police have warned that Drake is considered “armed and dangerous.” The TBI has placed him on its most wanted list with a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest.
Drake’s mother, Veleria East, confirmed her son’s death to WSMV.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell called it a “tragic end to the life of John Drake Jr.,” saying, “Our hearts go out to Chief Drake and his family at this difficult time.”
Chief Drake has not made any public comment on his son’s death.
However, during the hunt, he requested the arrest of his son, with whom he said he had “very minimal contact” in recent years.
“Despite my early and teenage efforts and guidance, my son, John Drake Jr., now 38 years old, has been engaged in criminal activity for many years and is a convicted felon. He has not been a part of my life for a long time,” the police chief said in the statement.
“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.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
