Reinking’s father could face charges in Waffle House shooting

Posted on April 24, 2018
Travis Reinking (pictured) was arrested for allegedly killing four people at a Waffle House near Nashville, having used a gun his father reportedly gave to him. (Photo courtesy Twitter/Metro Nashville PD)

By Eric Stock

NASHVILLE – While a Morton man has been jailed in Tennessee on charges he shot and killed four people at a Nashville Waffle House on Sunday, his father is under investigation by the feds for returning several weapons to his son, including the AR-15 that was used in the killing.

Travis Reinking, 29, was taken into custody after being on the run from police for more than a day. He was carrying a backpack that contained a firearm, ammunition and a flashlight. Reinking allegedly walked into the Waffle House early Sunday armed with an AR-15 and began to open fire killing four people and wounding two others before restaurant patron James Shaw wrestled the gun away from Reinking.

Tazewell County Sheriff Bob Huston had said police seized the weapons from Reinking last summer after his firearm owners card was revoked following an incident in which he was arrested near the White House when he said he wanted to meet with the president. The weapons were given to his father who admitted giving them back to his son.

Reinking will be charged with four counts of criminal homicide while police say his father could face charges too.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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