The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) released a statement Tuesday night revealing John Drake Jr. died from what “preliminarily appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
DEVELOPING: #MostWanted suspect John Drake, Jr. has died from what preliminarily appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
TBI special agents will investigate and await a full autopsy report. pic.twitter.com/ZdsHJs7ALB
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) October 25, 2023
Drake, the estranged son of Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake, was added to the TBI’s Most Wanted list after shooting two La Vergne police officers over the weekend.
“After pursuing investigative leads in the search for TBI Most Wanted suspect John Drake, Jr., authorities responded to a location in the 1400 block of 15th Avenue South in Nashville tonight. There, responding officers heard a muffled gunshot from an outbuilding and subsequently found Drake deceased from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” TBI said in a statement.
“At the request of 20th Judicial District Attorney General Glenn Funk, TBI special agents will investigate Drake’s death. A full autopsy will be performed as part of the ongoing investigation,” the agency added.
La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews also released a statement following the news, saying, “The La Vergne community and our heroic officers can rest easy tonight knowing that the manhunt for John Drake, Jr. is over. We want to thank all of the officers who were involved in tonight’s pursuit for their steadfastness and dedication to seeing this case through to the end. Our prayers are with Chief Drake and his family.”
TBI’s announcement came hours after Chief Mowes urged community members to send in tips as to the whereabouts of Drake.
Mowes also shared an update on the two officers shot by Drake, saying both officers have since returned home from the hospital and are recovering from their injuries “surrounded by loved ones.”
The two officers, identified as Ashley Boleyjack and Gregory Kern, were shot by Drake as they were investigating a stolen vehicle before ending up in a struggle with Drake, who was armed with a handgun. The incident took place on Saturday in front of the Dollar General located at the intersection of Stones River Road and Lake Forest Drive.
Drake was wanted for two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder. There was a $2,500 reward through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and a $12,500 reward through the local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) office for information leading to Drake’s arrest.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “John Drake Jr.” by La Vergne Police Department.
I will pray for the two police officers. I will also pray for Chief John Drake and John Drake Jr’s mother.
prayers for the two lavergne police officers who were shot by this criminal.