Nashville Police Chief’s Son Turns Gunman: John Drake Jr.
On October 21, 2023, two La Vergne, Tennessee police officers were shot by a suspected car thief. It was later discovered during the three-day manhunt that the suspect was John Drake Jr., the estranged son of the Nashville Metro Police Chief.
What happened?
John Calvin Drake Jr. was born on August 19, 1985, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Valeria A. English and John C. Drake Sr. He grew up alongside three siblings and was affectionately known as “Lil John.” Described as a cheerful child with a compassionate nature and big dreams, he actively participated in various sports such as basketball, football, and golf. Notably, he even traveled to Kansas for a game of golf with Tiger Woods.
Unfortunately, his parents’ marriage didn’t last, as they divorced in 1986 when John Jr. was just under a year old.
His father, John Sr., embarked on a career in law enforcement in 1988, when John Jr. was only three years old. Details about John Jr.’s early years are limited, but according to his father, signs of a troubled path emerged during his teenage years, marking the beginning of his criminal record.
Two Opposing Careers
In the early 2000s, John Drake Sr., driven by a desire to guide and support young people, moved to the Police Athletic League, where he established a basketball program for children. Over time, this program experienced significant growth, expanding from 100 participants in its inaugural year to over 1,300 within five years. Additionally, Chief Drake initiated a junior golf program, which has since become integrated into the First Tee initiative.
Meanwhile, John Jr.’s life took a turn when he was arrested for theft under $500 on October 31, 2005. However, the case was dismissed a year later.
He was arrested again on July 4, 2006, for assault and domestic bodily injury.
On February 1st, 2007, John Sr. was promoted to sergeant, while John Jr. faced legal trouble when he was arrested and charged with domestic bodily injury. He was convicted and received a sentence of 4 months. Following this, on July 25, 2007, he was arrested again, this time for aggravated burglary, as well as resisting and evading arrest. He was found guilty and sentenced to an additional 11 months. Continuing his string of offenses, on October 16, 2007, John Jr. was arrested for assault and criminal impersonation, resulting in a sentence of 9 months.
On July 15, 2008, John Jr. faced serious charges of aggravated rape, but was ultimately found guilty of the lesser charge of rape by force or coercion in January 2009. As a result, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender.
John Sr.’s career continued to advance, with promotions to lieutenant in 2010 and captain in 2014. However, despite his professional success, the relationship between father and son deteriorated over the years, leading to estrangement and limited communication between them.
On May 7, 2015, John Jr. faced another legal issue when he was arrested for a violation related to his sex offender registration. However, the prosecution opted to enter a nolle prosequi, indicating that they chose not to pursue the charges at that time. It’s important to note that while the charges were effectively dismissed, this decision did not prevent the possibility of reinstating charges in the future if circumstances changed.
On September 1, 2015, John Sr. was promoted to commander of the Nashville Central Precinct. Meanwhile, John Jr. encountered further legal trouble, as he was arrested again on October 8, 2015, for yet another violation related to his sex offender registration. This time, he was convicted and received a sentence of 90 days.
On September 29, 2017, he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault involving strangulation.
Then, on April 15, 2019, he encountered further legal trouble when he was arrested for yet another violation of the sex offender registration requirements. Following a conviction, he was sentenced to serve 180 days in custody.
On February 26, 2020, John Jr. faced another arrest and charge related to a sex offender registration violation. He was ultimately found guilty of the lesser charge of attempted sex offender registration violation and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days.
Meanwhile, John Sr. achieved a significant career milestone when he was appointed as the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s 8th Chief of Police on November 30, 2020.
On June 13, 2022, John Jr. was arrested for assault and domestic bodily injury, however, the case was dismissed.
The Shooting
On October 20, 2023, an altercation between John Jr. and his long-time girlfriend turned violent. According to the girlfriend, the altercation escalated to the point where John slapped her across the face and hit her in the head. She revealed to officers that they had a history of domestic violence, but she chose not to press charges out of fear of retaliation. She expressed genuine concern for her safety, indicating to the officers that she believed John was capable of causing her serious harm, even potentially killing her.
On Saturday, October 21, 2023, at approximately 2:30 pm, two La Vergne, Tennessee officers, Officer Ashley Boleyjack and Officer Gregory Kern, responded to a call regarding a potentially stolen car flagged by a license plate reader camera. They located the car outside the Dollar General grocery store at 670 Stones River Road. Upon approaching the driver, a struggle ensued during which the suspect seized his gun and opened fire.
Officer Boleyjack sustained a gunshot wound to the back of her left shoulder, while Officer Kern was hit in the right groin and right forearm. The shooter fled the scene, and the injured officers were promptly transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Officer Boleyjack was discharged from the hospital on the same day.
Following the incident, a shelter-in-place order was issued for residents in the surrounding area as law enforcement officers worked urgently to apprehend the suspect, who at that time remained unidentified.
However, around 5:30 pm, authorities revealed that the shooter was John Drake Jr., the estranged son of the Nashville Metro Police Chief.
Police Chief John Drake Sr. released the following statement regarding this son:
“I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn that my estranged son, with whom I have had very minimal contact over many years, is the suspect in this afternoon’s shooting of the two La Vergne police officers. My thoughts and prayers are with the two officers, who I understand are now in stable condition at Vanderbilt.
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. 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.”
Around 11:30 pm, authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order. A statewide BLUE Alert was issued, designating John Jr. as wanted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, there were no significant breakthroughs in locating him.
On October 22, 2023, Officer Gregory Kern was released from the hospital, while the search for John Jr. continued with no apparent new leads on his whereabouts.
On Monday, October 23, 2023, John Jr.’s mother, Valeria English, made a heartfelt plea directly to her son through the cameras of News Channel 5:
“You need to just turn yourself in. I still love you and I always will because you are my child. I can’t stop loving you, but I need you to do the right thing and turn yourself in please.”
According to Valeria English, she had last seen her son the week prior when he visited her to show her his new car. Allegedly, the same car officers where investigating as stolen.
Then, On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, around 6 pm, John Jr. approached a man at a duplex near Antioch Pike and asked for a ride. When the man explained he didn’t have a vehicle, John Jr. then approached a neighbor who was sitting in her driveway in her gold Chrysler 200. After requesting a ride from the 23-year-old woman, who informed him she was low on gas, John Jr. allegedly displayed a firearm, prompting her to exit the vehicle. He then proceeded to drive away in the direction of Nolensville Pike. Following the woman’s 911 call, officers located the car at the intersection of Thompson Lane and Patricia Drive and initiated a pursuit.
Around 8 pm, a helicopter located John Jr. and observed him crashing into a parked car. He fled from the scene and sought refuge in a shed. As officers closed in, they reportedly heard a single gunshot. Upon entering the shed, they found John Drake Jr. deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to his mother, he had called her earlier that day to say ‘I love you’ before hanging up.
After learning of his son’s death, Police Chief John Drake Sr., released the following statement:
“I am grateful to the members of law enforcement, including many officers from this department, who worked diligently since Saturday to locate my son and bring him into custody. It was my prayer that no harm would come to him or anyone else. I am heartbroken and saddened by the outcome. I appreciate the condolences and kind words of support as my family and I privately mourn our loss.”
Notably, a woman claiming to be another girlfriend of John Jr. has challenged the official narrative. In a public Facebook comment, she alleged that he did not die by suicide, insinuating that he was instead killed by police officers. However, claims like this should be viewed with skepticism as there is no concrete evidence to support their accuracy.
At the request of District Attorney General Glenn Funk, TBI special agents are investigating John Jr.’s death and an autopsy report has not been released as of February 2024.
Disclaimer: This blog discusses true crime cases and individuals involved in legal proceedings. All information presented here is based on publicly available sources and should be considered as allegations until proven in a court of law. It is crucial to understand that individuals mentioned in these cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of others. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of the information provided, mistakes or inaccuracies may occur. This blog does not intend to defame, slander, or harm the reputation of any individual mentioned. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and exercise critical thinking when interpreting the content of this blog. The author and publisher of this blog are not liable for any damages or consequences arising from the use of the information presented herein.
