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…
