There’s new information on the deadly shooting at a Waffle House near Nashville, Tennessee. Four people were killed, several others injured early this morning when a gunman with an assault weapon opened fire at the restaurant. A massive manhunt is now underway for the suspect, Travis Reinking, and it turns out he is no stranger to the law. He was actually on the Secret Service’s radar.
“The 29-year-old Illinois man accused of carrying out a fatal shooting Sunday morning at an Antioch Waffle House previously had weapons removed from his possession after a 2017 arrest near the White House.”
Waffle House Update: Murder warrants are now being drafted against Travis Reinking.
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) April 22, 2018
Suspect in Nashville Waffle House shooting had been arrested by United States Secret Service in July 2017 for being in a restricted area near the White House, Don Aaron of Nashville police says pic.twitter.com/m6fLGqKkm9
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 22, 2018
“Police have not detailed a motive for the shooting. Investigators also do not know why Reinking was in the Nashville area, more than 400 miles from his home town, or whether he has local ties. Aaron told reporters that investigators have reached out to Illinois law enforcement and have since learned that Reinking had been “known to associate with firearms.”
Meanwhile, police are saying James Shaw Jr., who was dining at the Waffle House when the shooting began, wrestled a gun away from the shooter with his bare hands. Watch Shaw’s full interview with a local Nashville station above as he explains what happened.
"You don't get to meet too many heroes in life, Mr. Shaw, but you are a hero. You're my hero," the CEO of Waffle House says an emotional thank-you to James Shaw Jr. He disarmed a gunman who killed 4 at a Nashville-area franchise. https://t.co/a5KYXNH4Hm https://t.co/7uD6ZspYaA
— CNN (@CNN) April 22, 2018
"Thrown into crisis, he acted with courage, he told me he saw opportunity and he took it. He saved lives," Nashville @MayorBriley says of James Shaw Jr., the Waffle House customer who stopped gunman. https://t.co/4flD7b5qzC pic.twitter.com/9mV3oR8HBT
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 22, 2018
So only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun? @NRA 🧐
https://t.co/a61hDQrWyD— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) April 22, 2018
Oh wow…not only was the #WaffleHouseShooter stopped by a good guy WITHOUT a gun, it was a BLACK good guy without a gun. @NRA and @GOP are gonna burst blood vessels all over. https://t.co/PvryE3c0be
— Charles Gaba ✡️ (@charles_gaba) April 22, 2018
Dear @SpeakerRyan: At least 4 people died & multiple victims injured because a gunman used an assault weapon at a Waffle House. When will you stop silencing us & let us at least debate gun safety measures in Congress?
You're quitting. You no longer need to be beholden to @NRA. https://t.co/Iohzlumc95
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 22, 2018