‘I need him to call and turn himself in’: Mom of John Drake Jr. begs her son to surrender
By Danielle Jackson
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WSMV) — Veleria East, the mother of John Drake Jr., is pleading for her to surrender to authorities. John Drake Jr., who is also the son of Metro Police Chief John Drake, is accused of shooting two La Vergne Police officers on Saturday.
“Come home. I need him to call and turn himself in. That’s exactly what I want him to do,” said East.
John Drake Jr. has been placed on the TBI Most Wanted list after being accused of shooting two officers during a traffic stop on Stones River Road on Saturday.
East said the last time she spoke with her son was Oct. 15. She said he would always visit her. She doesn’t understand what led up to his actions.
“I’d rather see him locked up, than be where I would have to bury him,” said East.
She said her biggest fear is for her son not to make it out of this situation alive.
The shooting happened at a Dollar General on Stones River Road Saturday afternoon. Police responded there after a license plate reader hit on a stolen car. Officers Ashley Boleyjack and Gregory Kern were shot and hospitalized. Both have since been released.
“He’s never done anything like this. I don’t know what made him want to do this and he just took off running and now he’s just gone,” said East. “I don’t want him to be a fugitive.
She explained how her son had issues with drugs in the past, and hasn’t always made the best decision by hanging with the wrong crowd but she said she would have never imagined her son being on the run.
John Drake Jr. has been charged 59 times since 2005 in Davidson County. Most recently with violating community supervision and domestic assault.
“I just don’t want people to think he’s a danger to people because he’s not. He’s running cause he’s scared,” said East.
Meanwhile, she’s holding on to hope that he will show up and do the right thing.
“Just waiting and praying. I just hope he calls my phone so I can plead to him to turn himself in,” said East.
East expressed how sorry she felt for the officers who were shot during this incident. She says she’s grateful they are recovering.
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