NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Thursday marks three years since a gunman went to an Antioch Waffle House at 3:23 a.m. and started shooting. Four people – DeEbony Groves, Akilah Dasilva, Joe Perez, and Taurean Sanderlin – were killed in the shooting.
DeEbony Groves was from Gallatin and a senior at Belmont, majoring in social work. She was shot and killed inside the restaurant. She was 21.
Akilah Dasilva was inside with his girlfriend and brother when he was shot. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died. Friends called him a “passionate” musician who was pursuing a career in musical engineering at MTSU. His brother Abede said Akilah "was photographer, musician, audio engineer, he recorded his own music, he learned how to build his own computer on his own, a genius you know."
Joe Perez, the youngest victim, moved to Nashville from Texas a few months prior to the shooting and was also shot outside the restaurant. He was 20-years-old.
Taurean Sanderlin age 29, was a Waffle House employee from Goodlettsville. He was shot and killed as he stood outside.
Metro police said it could've been worse if not for the heroic actions of James Shaw Jr. As people locked themselves in the bathroom to hide, Shaw saw the gunman's AR-15 jam and ran to wrestle the gun away.
He talked to Chris Conte later that day.
This is James Shaw. He's a hero. His hands are burned severely from grabbing the assault rifle used to kill four people inside a Nashville Waffle House. He likely saved dozens of lives pic.twitter.com/WV7KQlzA2R
— Chris Conte (@chrisconte) April 22, 2018
“I didn't mean to do this to be the hero by any means, it was survival of the fittest… I'm sorry I couldn't get to the guy any faster,” he said.
Shaw went on to create the James Shaw Jr. Foundation, which aims to stop violence and address mental health.
More stories:
- Akilah Dasilva's family hosting 'Stop the Gun Violence' event tonight
- Mother of Waffle House shooting victim turns pain into purpose with 'Hope for the Future' event
- Music video 'Broken' honors Waffle House shooting victims
- Remembering DeEbony Groves one year after mass shooting at Waffle House
- Mother of Waffle House shooting victim still sends texts nearly a year after his death
- James Shaw Jr.: The hero, survivor and advocate
- Witness still dealing with emotional scars after Waffle House shooting
