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Travis Reinking, 29, has been identified as the gunman who killed four people in a shooting at a Waffle House outside of Nashville. Six people were shot, including four who died. Two other people were wounded in the shooting and treated at Southern Hills Medical Center.
According to authorities, Reinking was previously arrested by the US Secret Service for trespassing and being in a restricted area near the White House. Murder warrants are now being drafted against him. Police said that Reinking, from Morton, Illinois, moved to Nashville in 2017 and worked a job in construction. Furthermore, police say that he had been fired from one job in April and began another construction job on Monday, April 16, but didn’t show up for work on Tuesday, April 17.
Police say that at the time of the shooting, Reinking was naked except for a green jacket, which he allegedly shed after the shooting. However, Reinking’s description has since changed, and he is now being described as being shirtless with black pants.
Nashville Mayor David Briley tweeted that Sunday, April 22 was a “tragic day” for the city.
“It’s a tragic day for our city anytime people lose their lives at the hands of a gunman. My heart goes out to the families & friends of every person who was killed or wounded in this morning’s shooting. I know all of their lives will be forever changed by this devastating crime.
There’s clearly more to be said about these circumstances, but for now I ask Nashville to pray for and rally around these victims and join me in thanking @MNPDNashville as it works to find and apprehend the shooter,” Mayor Briley said on Twitter.
While the motive of the shooting remains unclear, authorities believe that the shooting was random. At the time of this writing (5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22), Reinking was still on the loose. While Reinking remains at large, Nashville police are asking local residents to lock their door, stay alert, and remain vigilant as they authorities to search for the gunman.
