Waffle House Shooter Finally Found
Brittany Lynch, Journalist
Photo credit: News Channel 5
ANTIOCH, T.N.,– Four have been killed and four have been injured in a shooting at a local Waffle House in Antioch Tennessee. After a 34 hour search of the area, the suspected gunman was finally found.
At 3:25 a.m. gunfire broke out in a Waffle House in Antioch that has left several dead and injured. Metro Nashville Police officials have been investigating the scene and have allegedly identified a Person of Interest by the name of Travis Reinking, 29 of Illinois.
According to officials, Reinking pulled into the Waffle House parking lot around 3:18 in the morning but didn’t begin shooting with an AR-15 until close to seven minutes later. Allegedly, Reinking exited his vehicle and began to open fire.
Two victims were killed just outside the restaurant before the gunman entered the restaurant where he killed another victim and injured several more. According to the reports, one patron, James Shaw Jr., 29, saw the gunman fidgeting with his gun and the patron decided to take action. Shaw tackled the gunman and wrestled the firearm away. The gunman was able to get away and left the scene on foot. Shaw was taken to TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center where he was treated for an elbow injury and other small injuries and has since been released.
According to eye witness reports, that the gunman was wearing a green jacket and nothing else. Officials are saying that after fleeing the scene, the gunman allegedly removed his jacket and and was spotted running naked near the scene.
Reinking was believed, by police officials, to live in an apartment complex close to the scene of the crime and may have returned to his residence to retrieve pants. Alleged reports of a man matching Reinking’s description, wearing black pants, was said to be spotted in a woodline near Discovery on Mountain Springs Drive. Officials do know that Reinking is known to federal and Illinois state law enforcement.
Waffle House officials released a statement saying,
“ This is a very sad day for the Waffle House family. We ask for everyone to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.”
The victims were Taurean Sanderlin, 29, was an employee of Waffle House. Joe Perez, 20, was shot outside of the restaurant along with Sanderlin. DeEbony Groves, 21, was a senior at Belmont University and was killed inside the restaurant. Akilah Dasilva, 23, was shot inside the restaurant but later died from his injuries at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Nashville Mayor David Briley also made a statement this morning saying,
“It is a tragic day for our city anytime people lose their lives at the hands of a gunman. My heart goes out to the families and friends of everyone who was killed or wounded in this morning’s shooting. I know all of their lives will be forever changed by this devastating crime.
“There’s clearly more to be said about these circumstances, but now I ask Nashville to pray for and rally around these victims and join me in thanking [Metro Police Department] as it works to find and apprehend the shooter.”
Reinking had disappeared from the scene of the crime just after the shooting on Sunday. Since then, over 160 law enforcement officials had joined the search for him.
At close to 1:07 p.m. on Monday, Reinking was spotted in a wooded area near Old Hickory Boulevard and Hobson Park. He was taken into custody. Bond and and charges have not been listed as of yet.