LA VERGNE, TN – A statewide Blue Alert has been declared in Tennessee, following a shocking incident outside a Dollar General where two law enforcement officers were shot.
The man at the center of this manhunt is 38-year-old John C. Drake, Jr., wanted on two charges of attempted murder. An unsettling twist to this pursuit is the familial link between the suspect and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief, John Drake; the suspect is the Chief’s distant son.
In a statement filled with dismay, Chief Drake shared his minimal recent contacts with his son and his anguish upon learning of the incident. “The rapid recovery of the two brave officers from La Vergne is my foremost wish right now,” emphasized Chief Drake, urging the community’s assistance in ensuring his son faces the consequences of his actions.
The tumultuous episode unfolded when officers, investigating a suspect vehicle, encountered Drake, Jr. As described by La Vergne Police Chief Chris Moews, what should have been a routine check swiftly turned violent, with Drake, Jr. producing a gun and firing at the officers. Thankfully, both injured officers are recuperating and are in stable condition.
Given John C. Drake, Jr.’s history of criminal behaviors and his recent actions, Chief Drake stressed the urgency of his apprehension, emphasizing his long estrangement from his son. Drake, Jr. is a 5-foot-11 individual with a strong build and distinctive dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a hockey mask motif tee and was driving in La Vergne.
Though initially advising La Vergne’s Lake Forest residents to stay indoors, the local police later assured the community of their safety while emphasizing the need for vigilance.