29 year old James Shaw Jr tackled Waffle House Shooter

Posted on April 22, 2018 by SouthernGirl2

A 29-year-old man credited with saving numerous lives Sunday morning after he disarmed a man who opened fire on an Antioch Waffle House said he was just trying to stay alive.

James Shaw Jr., 29, said after feeling cornered he saw an opportunity to tackle the man shooting into an Antioch Waffle House. He said he doesn’t feel like a hero.

Police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters Sunday morning that the Waffle House hero rushed the suspected shooter, disarmed him and threw the assault rifle he was carrying over the counter.

“I don’t really know, when everyone said that (of being a hero), it feels selfish,” Shaw Jr. “I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it.”

Shaw Jr. said he was at a fraternity house party before heading to the Bell Road Waffle House at about 2:30 a.m. with some friends. They left soon after because it was too packed, he said.

They decided on the Waffle House on Murfreesboro Road, which was just over 2 miles away.

The group pulled into the Waffle House at about 3:20 a.m. Not soon after, chaos broke out.

Police said the suspected shooter opened fire at about 3:25 a.m. at the Waffle House at 3571 Murfreesboro Pike, which is just south of Mt. View Road. The shooting left at least four dead and four injured.

Police said they are drafting warrants for murder charges against Travis Reinking, 29, of Morton Illinois, in connection to the shooting. Authorities continue to search for Reinking.

A man believed to be Reinking was last seen in a wood line near Discovery at Mountain View Apartments on Mountain Springs Drive, near the Waffle House. The man was wearing black pants and no shirt, police said.

The “hero” suffered an injury to his elbow, along with some other abrasions, Aaron said. He was taken to TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center, was treated for minor injuries and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Shaw Jr. can’t recall how many shots there were, just that a man was on the floor. Shaw Jr. said a bullet grazed and he jumped toward the bathroom.

“I remember I was like ‘Dang, I’m basically in a barrel,’ ” Shaw Jr. said. “There is no place for me to go.”

As the suspect came through the door, he needed to reload, Shaw Jr. said. That’s when he said he rushed him.

“When he came in, I distinctively remember thinking that he is going to have to work for this kill,” Shaw Jr. said. “I had a chance to stop him and thankfully I stopped him.”

He added: “I grabbed the gun and kept it down. He had one hand on it. I pulled it away and threw it over the bar.”

Shaw Jr. said the suspect took himself outside and walked quickly away. He didn’t follow him for fear that he had another gun. The man was clothed only in a green bomber jacket, Shaw Jr. said.

Shaw Jr. said not soon after he flagged down drivers to call 911.

He was taken to the hospital at about 4 a.m. and released at 7:30 a.m.

“While I was in hospital, a girl that was there said you saved my life,” he said. “I didn’t do it to be hero.”

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
This entry was posted in Current Events, Domestic Terrorism, Gun Violence, News, Open Thread and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

87 Responses to 29 year old James Shaw Jr tackled Waffle House Shooter

  3. Ametia says:
    April 24, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    You do realize that the more we use social media to drag these MOFOs out for their FILTH, the more bonds being revoked for white supremacists, domestic terrorists murders like Travis Reinking wil lNOT be allowed to go UNCHALLENGED!!!!

    Reply
  9. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 24, 2018 at 11:33 am

    Well now. Thank God! It should have NEVER been an option in the first damn place.

    https://twitter.com/Tennessean/status/988801885103640576

    Reply
  10. Liza says:
    April 24, 2018 at 10:25 am

    I wondered about this. Why is this guy being held on a 2 million dollar bond? He should be held without bond.

    https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/988700220128153600

    Reply
  14. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 24, 2018 at 9:50 am

    This thug mofo is smiling? He shot 8 people, killing 4 and he’s smiling? Please God, give me strength.

    https://twitter.com/NC5/status/988553211152863233

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      April 23, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      Per WaPo:

      Waffle House shooting suspect has been arrested, police say
      A manhunt was underway since Sunday for Travis Reinking, 29, who is accused of opening fire at the restaurant in a neighborhood southeast of downtown Nashville and killing four people.

      Documents released by the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois paint a picture of Reinking’s apparent struggles with mental illness.

      NAWL, MOFO, YOU ARE AN OUTRIGHT MURDERING DOMESTIC TERRORIST!!!!!!!!!

      Reinking, who was stopped while trying to breach a barrier near the White House last year, later had several weapons confiscated by police, including, authorities said, the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle used in the Waffle House shooting.

      The guns, however, were later returned to Reinking’s father, who has acknowledged he gave them back to his son, officials said.

      https://s2.washingtonpost.com/5bdea7/5ade21d9fe1ff668a04dd6b5/YXdhcmVvZjQxMUBnbWFpbC5jb20%3D/2/10/3a569220054ddfca9b49a25bb24a75b5

      Reply
      • yahtzeebutterfly says:
        April 23, 2018 at 2:16 pm

        I think he is a White domestic terrorist.

        Reply
      • yahtzeebutterfly says:
        April 23, 2018 at 2:24 pm

        White racism is evil and dangerous in our country. It has been embolden during the present administration.

        I don’t want to be an observer…I want to bring about change.

        Wish there was a post somewhere with new ideas about how I can make a significant contribution to bring about change. So far there’s marching, signing petitions, educating people about systemic racism, writing and calling state and national representatives.

        Somehow, I (we) have to identify the gears that run the racism of the system. I can think of greed, hate, ignorance, the inferior White individual wanting to feel superior, …..

        Stop those gears!

        Reply
      • Ametia says:
        April 23, 2018 at 2:26 pm

        A day long man-hunt, let’s see, just enough time to get stories straight on mental illness diagnosis?

        I.CAN.NOT.

        Reply
    • Liza says:
      April 23, 2018 at 12:56 pm

      “When Shaw’s father went to visit him in the hospital early Sunday before he was released, he had one piece of advice for his son: “Don’t do that again.””

      Reply
  27. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 23, 2018 at 9:31 am

    #JamesShawJr HERO in the #WaffleHouseShooting. We hear your deafening silence, Donald Trump. Get out of our White House! You’re unfit & unworthy to step foot in our sacred place. Get out!

    Reply
  29. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 23, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Who is helping #TravisReinking? Find & arrest this killer!

    Reply
  32. rikyrah says:
    April 23, 2018 at 8:54 am

    So….no tweets from Dolt45 about the Waffle House Shooting…

    Uh huh

    Neither he, nor the phucking KKKeebler Elf, and goddamn SILENCE from the NRA.

    UH HUH
    UH HUH

    Reply
  33. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 23, 2018 at 8:53 am

    I can’t believe this. Cops haven’t found him? Someone is helping him!

    https://twitter.com/shomaristone/status/988414726865604608

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      April 23, 2018 at 11:34 am

      No “credidible sights” = ?

      Trust, if these cops watned to find TravisReinking, they would & could by now. Escalate the killings to a HATE CRIME & get the FBI involved.

      Reply
  34. yahtzeebutterfly says:
    April 23, 2018 at 8:30 am

    God bless James Shaw, Jr. With his bravery, he saved so many lives! Thank you, James!

    HERO James Shaw, Jr. has shown us (proved to us) that when you take away the assault rifle that the mass killing stops.

    BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS!

    Reply
    • yahtzeebutterfly says:
      April 23, 2018 at 8:27 am

      End White Supremacy and White racist hate!!!

      We need Congress to do its job and somehow get guns away from haters.

      Reply
  36. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 22, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    I’m so so sorry. My deepest sympathy to your family. 💔

    https://twitter.com/ChiomaMelan/status/988177179287719937

    Reply
  37. rikyrah says:
    April 22, 2018 at 9:40 pm

    Nothing from the NRA?😕😕

    Reply
  45. rikyrah says:
    April 22, 2018 at 6:37 pm

    So brave 👏👏👏

    Reply
  46. Ametia says:
    April 22, 2018 at 3:52 pm

    Where is the MURDERER?

    JUST ASKING

    Reply
  53. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 22, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    James Shaw was ready to fight………….

    #JamesShaw: “It was at that time I kind of made up my mind … that if it was going to come down to it, he was going to have to work to kill me.”

    https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/988142352865878016

    Reply
  55. vitaminlover says:
    April 22, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    Bless him! I like how they applauded him.

    Reply
    • Ametia says:
      April 22, 2018 at 1:55 pm

      How blessed is James’ daughter. She has a father who is ALIVE, saving the lies of others from a domestic terrorist.

      Reply
    • Liza says:
      April 22, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      It’s good that James has so much support from his family, friends, and his church. God knows he will need it, as all survivors of these mass shootings do.

      He acted instinctively, of course, and as he said it is “survival of the fittest”. But that “fittest” bar is so damn high when the threat to one’s survival is armed with an automatic weapon. Not many folks can do what he did no matter how badly they might want to.

      He’s an interesting man.

      Reply
  64. SouthernGirl2 says:
    April 22, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Somebody tell Donald Trump….this guy didn’t talk ISH about what he’d do. He rushed the shooter & tackled him. The shooter was reloading when James Shaw Jr tackled him. He was going to kill more people. James Shaw Jr saved lives.

    A REAL HERO!

    Reply
    • yahtzeebutterfly says:
      April 22, 2018 at 2:03 pm

      God bless James Shaw, Jr.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      He is a HERO. He saved so many lives!!!

      SG2, you are so wonderful to have created this tribute page honoring James!

      Reply

Leave a Reply