Police search for gunman who killed four at Nashville waffle house
Officials are still searching for a nude gunman who killed four people at a Waffle House near Nashville on Sunday. Nathan Frandino reports.
Waffle House diner James Shaw just wanted to live.
When a nearly nude gunman opened fire early Sunday at this Waffle House near Nashville, Tennessee, Shaw says he had no choice.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES SHAW, WAFFLE HOUSE DINER, SAYING:
“You have to either react or you’re going to fold and I chose to react because I didn’t see any of other way. I just wanted to live.”
In reacting, Shaw became a hero to many.
During a break in the gunfire, Shaw dashed at the gunman and wrestled away the AR-15 assault-style rifle.
His fast actions were credited with saving lives, though he dismissed the idea that he was a hero.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES SHAW, WAFFLE HOUSE DINER, SAYING:
“I’m not a hero. I’m just a regular person (cries).”
After losing the gun, officials say the suspect — identified as 29-year-old Travis Reinking — fled, leaving behind three victims… A fourth person later died at the hospital.
Officials recovered two magazines containing additional ammunition for the rifle. The magazines were found in the suspect’s jacket left nearby.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DON AARON, NASHVILLE POLICE PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER, SAYING:
“He clearly came armed with a lot of firepower, intending to devastate the south Nashville area.”
Investigators have also learned that Reinking had been arrested last year for being in a restricted area of the White House… and the same rifle was confiscated by authorities in Illinois last year at the FBI’s request.
They say the authorities returned the rifle and three other weapons to Reinking’s father who later gave them back to his son.
Investigators have searched Reinking’s home and found one of the weapons, leaving two unaccounted for.
Reinking, meanwhile, remains on the run…
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