Hero Who Took The Gun From The Tennessee Killer

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A 29-year-old boy who bravely managed to disarm the four-person killer at a Waffle House restaurant in Tennesee is now considered a hero thanks to his timely intervention.

James Shaw Jr. recounted on Monday morning's Today (NBC) show his performance in the shooting that happened on Sunday at 3:25 am local time. The boy explained that he was sitting in one of the bar seats when he heard the sound of the first shots that Travis Reinking, also 29, fired from outside the restaurant, which he later entered.

When the first shots were fired, Shaw Jr. and a friend ran to the bathroom to protect themselves. "It seemed like a bad idea (…) it was like shooting fish in a barrel," he said.

After entering the premises and opening fire again with an AR-15 rifle, Reinking apparently stopped firing when he ran out of the magazine and that's where Shaw jumped into action. "I saw my chance and attacked."

He said that he left the hallway that leads to the bathrooms where he had sheltered behind a door and pounced on the armed boy. With his left hand he took the weapon and threw it behind the counter, while with his right he hit the attacker. "I didn't know if he had another weapon, like a knife or if he could have a gun, but he knew that he could [make him leave] everything would be fine."

The subject, who was half-naked and wearing a jacket as the only garment, fled on foot after losing the weapon. The Nashville metropolitan police continue to search for them and, through their official Twitter account, they released a photograph of the suspect, who was identified as having abandoned a car registered in his name at the site.

In total, four people lost their lives in the shooting and two more were injured. Police identified the victims as Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29, a restaurant employee; Joe R. Pérez, 20, DeEbony Groves, 21 and Akilah Dasilva, 23, these last three clients of the premises. The first three victims died at the scene, while the last died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Shanita Wagoner, 21, and Sharita Henderson, 24 were also injured and remain in the said medical center.

Those with clues to the suspected killer are asked to immediately contact the Nashville police at 615-862-8600.