Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr. raises $85k for victims’ families
The initial goal was $15,000.
James Shaw Jr. saved his own life and that of others last week by disarming a gunman, but his good deeds continue as he raised tens of thousands of dollars for victims' families.
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James Shaw Jr is too humble to accept the hero title for tackling a gun-toting madman to the ground and saving several others in the Waffle House shooting where four people were killed this past weekend.
But surely, he is – especially considering that he posted a GoFundMe for the victims’ families with the intentions to collect $15,000. Shaw has raised $85,000 as of press time, and that number is rising fast thanks to his thoughtful efforts.
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He wrote:
“Please take the time to donate as all of the proceeds will be given to the families,” the page reads. “Thank you again for your generosity and blessings!”
Some 2,000-plus people have donated to the page and have called Shaw out for being the hero he is.
“Thank you for your bravery, Mr. Shaw,” one donor wrote. “You are the future of our country. Please take care of yourself to heal from your traumatic experience, and God bless you.”
The Waffle House shooter, Travis Reinking, was finally apprehended on Monday.
Waffle House Shooting
Shaw encountered Reinking while eating at the Waffle House location in Nashville.
Reinking starting shooting customers with an AR-15 outside of the restaurant at about 3:30am.
NY Daily News reports that Shaw hid near a bathroom and watched Reinking’s moves, and when Reinking looked down at his gun to reload, he sprang into action. Shaw wrestled the AR-15 away from the mad man.
“It was about that time that I made up my mind ― because there was no way to lock that door ― that if it was going to come down to it, he was going to have to work to kill me,” Shaw said at a press conference. “I rushed him and it actually worked out to my favor.”
After wrestling the gun from Reinking, Shaw threw it over the counter. The gun’s hot metal also seared his skin and burned him. Shaw pushed Reinking outside of the restaurant and then got out of harm’s way.
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Shaw doesn’t believe he was being a hero but has been praised by everyone for saving lives.
“I was doing it just to save myself,” he said. “My doing that, I did save other people, but I don’t want people to think I was the Terminator or Superman or anybody like that.”
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