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What We Know About Waffle House Mass Shooting Suspect

Posted at 10:01 AM, Apr 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-23 03:13:17-04

A naked gunman opened fire at a Waffle House in Antioch, killing four people and injuring four others.

Police identified the gunman as 29-year-old Travis Reinking from Illinois. It's believed he moved here in the fall of 2017.

Here's what we know about him so far: 

1. He is from Morton, Illinois, but is currently living at an apartment complex called The Discovery at Mountain View near the Antioch Waffle House.

  • Driver's license issued in Morton, Illinois
  • The truck he was driving is registered to him out of Morton, Illinois
  • He moved here last fall for a construction job; however, he was fired from that job about three weeks before the shooting.
  • On the Monday before the shooting, he was hired by a new company, but he failed to show up for work the next day.

2. Metro Nashville Police officials reported that he has had interactions with the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office and with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

3. Authorities previously took his guns.

  • He was later interviewed by Tazewell County, Illinois authorities and the FBI, and his Illinois firearms authorization was revoked. Four weapons were seized by authorities, including the AR-15 used in the Waffle House shooting.
  • Police received information that the guns were returned to Reinking's father.
  • Reinking's father has acknowledged giving them back to his son.
  • One of the four guns, a pistol, remains unaccounted for, according to police. (One firearm was found at the scene, and at least one more was found during a search of his apartment.)

4. NewsChannel 5 Investigates team found that he had 13 traffic-related offenses in Illinois between 2005 and 2013. 

5. Reinking was last spotted near Discovery at Mountain View Apartments, 5000 Mountain Springs Dr, Antioch TN 37013, wearing black pants and no shirt.

6. His motive is unknown. Metro Police officials said there were no obvious signs of why he would have done this.

Officials urged residents to stay inside and call 615-862-8600 if they spot him. Police said he has a propensity for guns and urge residents not to approach him.

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