Man who foiled Waffle House shooter raises $227K

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A man being praised as a hero for wrestling an assault-style rifle away from a gunman at a Tennessee Waffle House has helped raise nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the victims.

James Shaw Jr., 29, was dining with a friend at the Nashville restaurant when a gunman wearing only a jacket opened fire outside with an AR-15 rifle and then stormed the Waffle House, police said. Four people were killed and four others injured, including Shaw, in the April 22 attack.

Shaw set a funding campaign goal of $15,000 to offer modest financial support to the victims. As of Monday, he said, the campaign had received more than 6,000 donations totaling $227,000.

The account, which is at gofundme.com/5g07bvs, will be closed May 13. After that, Shaw said, the Nashville office of financial services firm UBS will distribute the money to the victims and their families.

Travis Reinking, 29, faces multiple charges, including four counts of criminal homicide and four counts of attempted criminal homicide.

He fled after Shaw wrestled the AR-15 away from him and threw it over a counter, police said. Reinking was captured following a massive manhunt that lasted more than 24 hours.

Reinking’s public defender on Monday asked that the suspect be given an outpatient mental health evaluation before proceeding with the court case. Davidson County General Sessions Judge Michael Mondelli granted the request and said lawyers should come back in three weeks for a status hearing.

Reinking was not in court. He is being held in the Metro Nashville Jail without bond.