Nashville Waffle House Murders

On April 22, 2018, a mass shooting occurred in Antioch, TN at a Waffle House restaurant. The shooter, Travis Reinking, killed four people and injured two others. The incident began at 3:19am, when Reinking, who was only partially clothed and wearing a green jacket, shot and killed two people outside of the restaurant. He then entered the restaurant and continued shooting, killing two more people and injuring others from shattered glass. Police were called at 3:25am and Reinking was initially taken to the hospital as a victim. It was later discovered that he had a history of schizophrenia and delusional thoughts, including the belief that Taylor Swift was stalking him. Reinking had recently moved to Nashville and had been fired from his job in construction. In the days leading up to the shooting, he had reported to police that he was being stalked and threatened. His paranoia increased when he felt that the police were not taking him seriously. This led him to believe that the police, and potentially the CIA, were conspiring against him. He had been at the Waffle House the night before the shooting, and believed that he had overheard someone quoting his diary, this confirmed to him that the CIA was after him. He said that he had prayed and God told him to kill the people at the Waffle House. Reinking was initially found not guilty by reason of insanity, but on January 31, 2022, the decision was reversed and he was charged with 4 murders. On February 4, 2022, he was convicted of 2 of the murders. A customer who was in the bathroom during the shooting was able to stop the attack by taking down Reinking and wrestling the gun away from him. Reinking then fled the scene and was later found by police. The police had searched for him and he was considered armed and dangerous, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added him to their 10 most wanted list. He was eventually arrested in the woods nearby after being spotted by a police officer. The jacket he was wearing at the time of the shooting was found nearby, with AR-15 ammunition in its pockets. The motives behind the shooting were initially unknown, but it was later revealed that Reinking's delusional thoughts and paranoia led him to believe that the CIA was after him, and that he needed to take action before they could get to him. The tragic event has left a deep impact on the community and the families affected by the shooting. It is a reminder of the devastating effects of mental illness, and the importance of seeking help for those who may be struggling with it.