Waffle House shooting update: Suspected shooter Travis Reinking arrested after naked gunman kills four

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Martin Coulter23 April 2018

Police have arrested a suspect after a naked gunman opened fire in a Tennessee waffle house, killing four.

Three others were injured when alleged shooter Travis Reinking, 29, who is said to have walked into the Nashville diner wearing only a green jacked, opened fire.

He is believed to have been in hiding in a wooded area nearby the restaurant and his apartment.

One of the injured died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Wetzel. Two others still at the hospital are in critical but stable condition, she said.

Four people were killed after a gunman opened fire at a Waffle House restaurant on Sunday
AP

It was not immediately known where the fourth person was being treated.

Police told CNN the man shed his jacket before fleeing on foot. A shirtless man wearing pants who was believed to be Reinking was spotted in woods near the restaurant, police said.

Metro Davidson County Police inspect the scene near Nashville
REUTERS

Reinking was previously arrested by agents with the US Secret Service back in July after he crossed a restricted area near the White House, officials said. He was detained after refusing to leave, saying he wanted to meet President Donald Trump.

n May 2016, deputies from Tazewell County, Illinois, were called to a CVS parking lot. Reinking told officers that Taylor Swift was stalking him and hacking his phone, and that his family was also involved, according to a report released Sunday.

A Tazewell County Sheriff's deputy talks with a man in the home of Reinking's extended family
AP

Reinking is also said to have told police in Tazewell County, Illinois, in August that he wanted to file a report about 20 to 30 people tapping into his computer and phone.

He agreed to go to a local hospital for an evaluation after repeatedly resisting the request, a report said.

The victims fatally shot in the car park have been identified as Taurean Sanderlin, 29, of Goodlettsville, and Joe Perez, 20, of Nashville.

Mr Sanderlin was an employee at the restaurant.

Mr Perez's mother posted a picture of her son on Facebook and asked for prayers, saying it was the hardest day of her life.

"Me, my husband and sons are broken right now with this loss," Trisha Perez said in the post. "Our lives are shattered."

Reinking then went inside the restaurant and opened fire, police said.

James Shaw wrestled the gun from the man who opened fire
AP

Also wounded was James Shaw Jr., a 29-year-old restaurant patron, whom police said suffered minor wounds from wrestling the gun away Reinking.

Mr Shaw, who is a Nashville native who works as a wireless technician for AT&T, said he was no hero - despite being hailed as one by Nashville Mayor David Briley.

He said he saw pounced on the suspect after making up his mind that "he was going to have to work to kill me."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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