OfficerBlueAntioch, TN – Authorities announced Sunday afternoon that the suspect in a mass shooting at an Antioch Waffle House had previously been arrested by the U.S. Secret Service at the White House, and had his guns confiscated.
Travis Reinking, 29, is wanted after entering a Waffle House Sunday morning and fatally shooting four people and wounding two more.
James Shaw Jr., 29, was in the Waffle House and was able to disarm Reinking, who then fled.
In July 2017, the U.S. Secret Service had arrested Reinking for being in a restricted area at the White House.
A Secret Service representative said that he was trying to set up a meeting with the president, according to The Tennessean.
After he was arrested, authorities had his Illinois firearms authorization revoked, and they seized four firearms.
Nashville Metro PD announced Sunday that the AR-15 that Reinking used in the Waffle House shooting was one of the guns that had been previously seized by authorities.
After the guns were seized from the White House incident, authorities returned the guns to Reinking’s father, and they believe that he then gave all of the guns back to his son.
It’s believed that Reinking moved to Nashville in the fall of 2017. Authorities have searched his residence and found more of his guns missing.
Authorities now advise that Reinking may have access to those missing guns and he should be considered armed and dangerous.
According to Nashville Metro PD, Reinking started shooting people at the Waffle House at around 3:25 a.m. at 3571 Murfreesboro Pike on Sunday.
During the shooting, Shaw was able to wrestle the rifle out of the shooter’s hands.
Shaw says that he doesn’t feel like a hero.
“I don’t really know, when everyone said that (of being a hero), it feels selfish,” Shaw told The Tennessean. “I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it.”
Shaw said that he was at the Waffle House after a fraternity party when shots rang out, with one grazing him.
“I remember I was like ‘Dang, I’m basically in a barrel,’ ” Shaw Jr. told The Tennessean. “There is no place for me to go.”
After opening fire, the suspect came through the door and needed to reload. That’s when Shaw rushed him.
“When he came in, I distinctively remember thinking that he is going to have to work for this kill,” Shaw tole the Tennessean. “I had a chance to stop him and thankfully I stopped him. I grabbed the gun and kept it down. He had one hand on it. I pulled it away and threw it over the bar.”
The suspect then fled the scene naked and on foot.
Shaw said that he didn’t pursue the suspect for fear he might still be armed.
No motive has been established for the shooting, but authorities say that they believe mental issues are a factor.
Reinking is a white male with short brown hair and was last seen wearing nothing.
Anybody who sees Reinking is asked to call 615-862-8600 immediately.
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