LA VERGNE, Tenn. — Police in Tennessee are searching for the son of Nashville’s estranged police chief on Sunday as a suspect in the shooting of two police officers outside a Dollar General store.
Officers in La Vergne, a town about 20 miles southeast of Nashville, were investigating a stolen vehicle outside a store Saturday afternoon when they struggled with the suspect, who pulled a gun and shot them, LaVergne Police Chief Christopher Moews said.
Police identified the suspect as John C. Drake, Jr., 38, who is the son of Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake.
One of the officers was shot twice, in the groin and right arm, while the other officer was hit in the back left shoulder.
Both were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
One of the officers was released from the hospital Saturday night.
The other officer was held overnight for observation and is in stable condition, said Anne Smith, spokeswoman for the city of La Vergne.
The police chief issued a statement Saturday confirming that his son was a suspect in the shooting.
John C. Drake, Jr. — the son of Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake — is a suspect in the shooting of two police officers in La Vergne, Tennessee. Nashville Police Department via AP
Drake said they were estranged and over the years he had minimal contact with his son.
The younger Drake is a convicted felon who “has been engaged in criminal activity for years,” he said.
“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,” Drake said in the statement.
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
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a social media post that a statewide alert has been issued for Drake, who is wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Smith said about a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the search.
After the shooting, La Vergne police issued a shelter-in-place order for residents of the town.
The protective order was later lifted while the search for Drake continued, the department said in a social media post.
Photo released by the La Vergne Police Department of the suspect at the scene of the shooting. La Vergne Police Department
Mayor Freddie O’Connell released a statement in support of the police chief.
“My heart goes out to Chief Drake, his family, and the two injured LaVergne police officers. I know that despite our best efforts — including in their early years — we cannot be responsible for the choices of family members,” O’Connell said. “I support Chief Drake and stand by him during this difficult time. “
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
