According to police, the number of fatalities should have been more if James Shaw Jr., a Waffle House customer did not confront Reinking, wrestle the rifle from his hand and toss it over the counter. After that, Reinking fled the restaurant and dropped his jacket containing two magazines for his rifle. Shaw’s action definitely saved many lives.
In July 2017, the United States Secret Service arrested Reinking for being in a restricted area near the White House. After the arrest, authorities in Tazewell County, Illinois and the FBI interviewed him. Authorities in Illinois revoked his firearms authorization and seized his four firearms including an AR-15 rifle. The police returned the firearms to Reinking’s father, who admitted giving them back to him.
