On Sunday morning, a gunman opened fire inside a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee.
The shooter, later identified as Travis Reinking, killed four people and injured at least two more.
Waffle House: 6 persons shot, 4 fatally (3 died at the scene, 1 at the hospital). The 2 others are being treated at Vanderbilt. Search continuing for Travis Reinking. pic.twitter.com/ioR7cVq899
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) April 22, 2018
The situation could have been much worse if not for the bravery of 29-year-old James Shaw Jr.
This is the Waffle House hero, James Shaw Jr. He tackled the shooter and saved so many lives in the process. Thank you James. And thank you TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center for your wonderful doctors and nurses who quickly took care of his injuries. pic.twitter.com/kKORfI24G1
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) April 22, 2018
The gunman reportedly fired shots in the parking lot before entering the restaurant. When he stopped to reload his gun, Shaw approached him, wrestling the firearm from his control and tossing it behind the front counter. The shooter then fled the premises.
Shaw shared a photo online from his emergency room gurney, showing that he was wounded on his right forearms, just below the elbow. He also suffered burns to his hands, the result of having grabbed the barrel of the gunman’s rifle just moments after it had been fired.
This is James Shaw. He's a hero. His hands are burned severely from grabbing the assault rifle used to kill four people inside a Nashville Waffle House. He likely saved dozens of lives pic.twitter.com/WV7KQlzA2R
— Chris Conte (@chrisconte) April 22, 2018
A survivor from the shooting, Chuck Cordero, said that Shaw’s actions almost surely saved many lives.
“So I don’t know who this guy is,” Cordero said. “I talked to him afterwards and told him, ‘You are a hero, man,’ because had that guy reloaded there was plenty more people in that restaurant that probably could have not made it home this morning.”
After receiving treatment for his injuries, Shaw spoke with KTVF.
This is James Shaw. He's a hero. His hands are burned from grabbing the barrel of a gun used to kill four people at a Nashville Waffle House. He says he's sorry he couldn't save more people. pic.twitter.com/QXIevQLfM1
— Chris Conte (@chrisconte) April 22, 2018
He said that he ran into the Waffle House to disarm the shooter when he tried to reload, sensing that it would be the only possible window to take action.
“He is the hero here, and no doubt he saved many lives by wrestling the gun away and then tossing it over the counter and prompting the (gun)man to leave,” a spokesperson from the Metro Nashville police said.
Police are still searching for the suspect, Travis Reinking.