By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
April 23, 2018
Antioch, Tennessee - On Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Travis Jeffrey Reinking, 29, of Morton, Illinois had been taken into custody in Antioch. A $2,000 reward for any information leading to Reinking arrest had been offered. Reinking was wanted in connection for the April 22, 2018 fatally shooting of a Waffle House employee identified as Tuarein C. Sanderlin, 29, and customers Joe R. Pérez, 20, Deebony Groves, 21, and Akilah Dasilva, 23, and wounding Sharita Henderson, 24, and Shanita Waggoner, 21.
According to the felony criminal warrant, Reinking was wanted for four felony criminal homicide charges and two attempted murder charges, according to authorities. The criminal complaint and police investigation states that Reinking arrived at the Waffle House in his pickup truck at 3:19 a.m. He sat inside the vehicle for three to four minutes before getting out armed with an AR-15 rifle. He immediately opened fire on Sanderlin and Perez. The front glass of the restaurant was also shot out. He then went inside and continued shooting.
Waffle House patron James Shaw, Jr., 29, initially ran to the restroom area to escape the gunfire. He then looked and saw an opportunity to confront Reinking. Shaw took that opportunity, wrestled the rifle from Reinking's grasp, and tossed it over the counter. Shaw's actions undoubtedly saved many lives. Reinking, who was nude during the episode with the exception of a jacket, fled the restaurant. He shed the jacket nearby. It contained two magazines for the AR-15. Reinking then walked south on Murfreesboro Pike.
Shaw who is Afro-American was later hailed as a hero by restaurant shooting survivors. Shaw received minor injuries in the confrontation with Reinking.
Apparently after the shooting, Reinking went to his apartment after the shooting, put on a pair of pants, and again fled. A witness reported seeing a shirtless man matching his description in a wood line behind the apartment.
Reinking is believed to have moved to Nashville in the fall of 2017. He worked in the crane/construction trade. The police department has been informed that he was fired from one employer three weeks ago and started with another last Monday, but did not return to work on Tuesday.
Reinking was arrested by the United States Secret Service for being in a restricted area near the White House in July of 2017. He was subsequently released. Reinking was later interviewed by Tazewell County, Illinois, authorities and the FBI. His Illinois firearms authorization was revoked and four weapons were seized by Tazewell County authorities, among them was the AR-15 used today. The police department has received information that the guns were returned to Reinking's father, who has acknowledged giving them back to his son. Presently two of the four guns are unaccounted for (one of them was recovered during the apartment search).
Reinking is believed to have moved to Nashville in the fall of 2017. He worked in the crane/construction trade. The police department has been informed that he was fired from one employer three weeks ago and started with another last Monday, but did not return to work on Tuesday.
Reinking was arrested by the United States Secret Service for being in a restricted area near the White House in July of 2017. He was subsequently released. Reinking was later interviewed by Tazewell County, Illinois, authorities and the FBI. His Illinois firearms authorization was revoked and four weapons were seized by Tazewell County authorities, among them was the AR-15 used today. The police department has received information that the guns were returned to Reinking's father, who has acknowledged giving them back to his son. Presently two of the four guns are unaccounted for (one of them was recovered during the apartment search).
The Nashville Police Department released the identity of those victims killed and wounded by Reinking's shooting spree at the Waffle House in Antioch.
• Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29, of Goodlettsville, an employee of the restaurant who was fatally wounded as he stood outside;
• Joe R. Pérez, 20, of Nashville, a restaurant patron who was fatally wounded as he stood outside;
• Deebony Groves, 21, of Gallatin, who was fatally wounded inside the restaurant;
• Akilah Dasilva, 23, of Antioch, who was critically wounded inside the restaurant and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Two other persons were wounded by gunfire and are being treated at Vanderbilt. They are identified as:
• Shanita Waggoner, 21, of Nashville; &
• Sharita Henderson, 24, of Antioch.
• Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29, of Goodlettsville, an employee of the restaurant who was fatally wounded as he stood outside;
• Joe R. Pérez, 20, of Nashville, a restaurant patron who was fatally wounded as he stood outside;
• Deebony Groves, 21, of Gallatin, who was fatally wounded inside the restaurant;
• Akilah Dasilva, 23, of Antioch, who was critically wounded inside the restaurant and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Two other persons were wounded by gunfire and are being treated at Vanderbilt. They are identified as:
• Shanita Waggoner, 21, of Nashville; &
• Sharita Henderson, 24, of Antioch.
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