How Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr. raised $150,000 for victims’ families
James Shaw Jr., the humble hero who brought the Waffle House shooting to an end by tackling the gunman, has now raised more than $150,000 for the victims’ families.
Shaw posted a GoFundMe a few days ago with the intentions to collect $15,000 but that number rose fast thanks to his brave efforts to save lives.
And while Shaw was thinking of others when he started the campaign but since then, others have thought of him and launched a GoFundMe to benefit Shaw. So far $170,000 has been raised by a man who said:
“I normally don’t get involved directly in these matters, but James’ grace has inspired me to start this page to give him the support I feel he deserves.”
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The Tennessee Waffle House is also lending a helping hand and now pledges to donate all proceeds from that location for the next month to the victims of the shooting whether alive or deceased.
Shaw has also been hailed as a hero by lawmakers in the state. The General Assembly released ajoint resolution recognizing Shaw for his bravery.
“You are my hero,” state Rep. Jason Powell said, “and Tennessee’s hero.”
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.
“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.”
NY Daily News reports that Shaw hid near a bathroom and watched shooter Travis Reinking’s movements, and when Reinking looked down at his gun to reload, he sprang into action. Shaw wrestled the AR-15 away from the killer.
“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, James Shaw Jr. 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.
Reinking, was finally apprehended on Monday.
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