James Shaw Jr. Hailed A Hero After Snatching Gun From Waffle House Shooter

Source: Screengrab via CNN

A man hailed as a hero for saving the lives of innocent people during a shooting at a Tennessee Waffle House has spoken on the incident.

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James Shaw Jr. was with his friend Brennan McMurry at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee, when 29-year-old Travis Reinking opened fire in the restaurant with an AR-15 rifle, according to a report from Tennessean.com. Shaw Jr. said he jumped toward the bathroom and Reinking shot in his direction, with the bullet grazing Shaw Jr.

As Reinking came through the bathroom door, Shaw Jr. realized he had to reload, and used the opportunity to take the gun away from Reinking.

"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. After a brief tussle Shaw Jr. pushed the gunman out the door, with Reinking walking out of the restaurant following the altercation. Shaw Jr. suffered a gunshot wound and burns from grabbing the gun's barrel.

The Waffle House shooting left four people dead: Taurean C. Sanderlin, Joe Perez, Akilah Dasilva and DeEbony Groves. All four victims were under the age of 30.

Reinking was takem into custody after a 30-hour manhunt, with police officers finding him in some woods in Antioch thanks to a citizen's tip. Reinking faces at least four counts of criminal homicide and other charges, according to a report from WKRN.

After the incident, Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson referred to Shaw Jr. as a hero at a news conference.

"I'm not a hero. I'm just a regular person," Shaw Jr. said. "I think anybody could've did what I did if they're just pushed in that kind of cage, and you have to either react or you're going to, you know, fold."

Source: Tennessean.com