Police: 4 Dead, 4 Wounded In Shooting At Waffle House In Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CBS News) — Four people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting at a Waffle House in Tennessee early Sunday, Don Aaron of the Metro Nashville Police Department said in interview with CBS affiliate WTVF.
"A patron wrestled away the gunman's rifle. He was nude & fled on foot. He is a white man with short hair," authorities tweeted.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the suspect as Travis Reinking, 29, formerly of Illinois. Officials said Sunday evening that Reinking moved to Nashville about a year ago. They said he was recently fired from a construction job, but started a new job this past Monday. He failed to return to work Tuesday.
Officials also said Reinking was armed when he was detained by Secret Service outside the White House. He kept saying he wanted to speak to President Trump and that he was a citizen and had the right to speak to Trump. His weapons were confiscated and, inexplicably, returned to Reinking's father.
His father was told to keep the weapons under lock and key but revealed Sunday he had returned the weapons to his son.
"Vehicle the gunman arrived in is registered to him," police tweeted. "Gunman last seen walking south on Murfreesboro Pike. He shed is coat and is nude. See Reinking? Pls call 615-862-8600 immediately."
Police said a man believed to be Reinking was last seen "in a wood line near Discovery at Mountain View Apts. on Mountain Springs Dr. near the Waffle House." The man wore black pants and no shirt.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident," Waffle House said in a statement. Waffle House said there is an active investigation, and deferred all questions to police.
'This is a very sad day for the Waffle House family, and we ask for everyone to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers," the statement said said.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials said they received three patients from the shooting, CBS affiliate WTVF reports. One person was considered stable but critical, and two others were in critical condition.
