Hero disarms semi-naked man who killed four people
POLICE yesterday praised the bravery of a quick-thinking diner who snatched an assault rifle from a near-naked gunman who shot dead four people at a restaurant in Nashville.
Officers said the death toll could have been much worse were it not for the actions of James Shaw.
Mr Shaw, 29, said he did not feel like a hero but had just been trying to protect himself. “I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it,” he told The Tennesseean newspaper.
Witnesses said the gunman, who wore only a green jacket, opened fire with an AR-15 style rifle in the car park of the Waffle House restaurant, killing two people. He then moved inside and shot two more people.
Mr Shaw had arrived at the restaurant with friends at about 2.30am after a fraternity house party. He said he had tried to find refuge near the lavatories after being grazed by a bullet but spotted his opportunity when the gunman entered and needed to reload. “When he came in, I distinctively remember thinking that he is going to have to work for this kill,” he said. “I had a chance to stop him and thankfully I stopped him.”
A witness told CNN: “Had that guy reloaded, there were plenty more people who probably could have not made it home this morning.”
Police named the suspect as Travis Reinking, 29, who was believed to live near the restaurant. They said he may have discarded his jacket before fleeing on foot and warned that he should be considered extremely dangerous.
Nashville police identified those killed as Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29; Joe R. Perez, 20; Akilah Dasilva, 23; and Deebony Groves, 21.