The 29-year-old hero from Waffle House shooting: 'I saw the opportunity and I took it'

[dalton99a]

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2018/04/22/waffle-house-shooting-hero-stopped-shooter/540061002/
The 29-year-old hero from Waffle House shooting: 'I saw the opportunity and I took it'
Jason Gonzales, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 8:39 a.m. CT April 22, 2018 | Updated 10:29 a.m. CT April 22, 2018


James Shaw Jr. shows injuries he received when he stopped a gunman from continuing to fire in a Tennessee Waffle House on April 22, 2018. (Photo: Courtesy James Shaw Jr.)

A 29-year-old man credited with saving numerous lives Sunday morning after he unarmed a man who opened fire on an Antioch Waffle House said he was just trying to stay alive.

James Shaw Jr., 29, said he saw an opportunity to tackle the man shooting into an Antioch Waffle House after feeling cornered. He said he doesn’t feel like a hero.

Police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters Sunday morning that the Waffle House hero rushed the suspected shooter, disarmed him and threw the assault rifle he was carrying over the counter.

“I don’t really know, when everyone said that, it feels selfish,” Shaw Jr. said. “I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it.”

[SoCalMusicLover]

1. Pictured: A Fucking HERO!!

The NRA wants to know where his gun is, or perhaps call him a "crisis actor."

How many lives did he save? Including most assuredly, his own.

[lame54]

12. Yes - Waffle houses are small places

[BobTheSubgenius]

16. Excellent point!

Many people I know are sending thoughts and prayers, desperately hoping that the gun gets re-homed quickly with a loving individual or family.

[sandensea]

50. And that no bad, mean laws are passed to inconvenience them in any way, the poor babies

[monmouth4]

2. Good thing the young man threw that rifle over the counter when he did. Authorities come in,

see him with the rifle and immediately assume he's the shooter. Not only brave and heroic, but SMART!!!!

[PJMcK]

35. Yeah, I thought the same thing

I'm glad this guy only got that contusion on his elbow.

He's a real-life American hero.

Take a righteous bow, Mr. Shaw. I admire your bravery because I don't think I would've had the guts to do what you did. You saved lives.

[malaise]

52. +1,000

Said the same thing

[rainin]

73. He knew to throw the weapon because of his life experience. Black men know they're targets of police

He is a true hero.

I hope I live long enough to see true racial equality. I'm ashamed America isn't there yet. We really could be great - if we could turn government back over to the people. The people elect men like Obama. OTOH republicans work for the wealthy and special interests like the NRA. It's clear as day. GOTV

[superpatriotman]

3. James Shaw Jr. Is a Hero

He's lucky the cops didn't show up and kill him.

So two national news shooter stories this week: both shooters 20-something WHITE males.

[Aristus]

4. I was going to say:

an unarmed black man taking down a white shooter.

White cops and white gun-nuts are gonna shit!

[malaise]

5. He's a hero for real

but given his color he should consider himself lucky to be still alive - guess that's why he threw the weapon over the counter.

Sad that media folks don't know the word disarmed - unarmed?

[Baitball Blogger]

6. What gun was he carrying?

[SoCalMusicLover]

18. The Killer Had An AR-15 nt

[Baitball Blogger]

21. And the man who disarmed him had no weapon.

So, it is possible to diffuse a situation without everyone having to carry a gun.

[A HERETIC I AM]

31. In other words...

The most effective way to counter a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with courage

[ThoughtCriminal]

44. Interesting that so many new sources just refer to it as a "Rifle"

The "Rifle"

[workinclasszero]

46. The AR-15

Weapon of choice for American mass killers

[SunSeeker]

68. Yep. nt

[onecaliberal]

7. How come were not hearing about this hero on TV?

[MineralMan]

9. I heard about him this morning on the TV...

What channel are you watching?

[VOX]

8. Hey, only a good guy WITH A GUN can stop a bad guy with a gun!

Mr. Shaw is completely disqualified from the right-wing heroes competition!!1!
————-
Thank you, Mr. Shaw, for taking the action you did. Everyone should be so “selfish.”

[jmowreader]

26. Be nice

He was a good guy with a gun...for the three seconds it took him to wrench it out of the shooter’s hands and chuck it over the counter.

But you’re right, he totally hoses the narrative. Screw narrative.

[Igel]

40. Yeah, but it's not *their* narrative.

It's our version of their narrative.

One narrative said that even with a normal handgun you'd be a fool to take on somebody with an AR-18.

What, a fire extinguisher? Ridiculous.

Baseball bats? Can't be done.

Rocks? How neandertal--no offense intended to that noble and venerable species.

Why are they pointless? Because none offer a guarantee, and in binary, polarized thinking it's either guaranteed victory or ignominious defeat. No gray.

Far, far better than any of those things are, apparently, bare hands. Because it shows you don't *need* any of those things. But that's not a serious argument.

When cornered, you don't cower. If you die trying to save your life and others' lives, you die--but if you fight, maybe there's a chance you won't die. If you die cowering and whimpering in the corner, you die, and the only hope is that the guy misses or the people in front of you absorb enough of the bullet's energy so it doesn't hurt you.

If you're going to fight, bare hands might work. Using a bat might work better. Fire extinguisher? You can use it from 10 feet away, so maybe that's better than a bat in tilting the odds less in the AR's favor. Gun? Usable from even further away--but then there's the risk of it going through a wall or hitting somebody behind the target. Because we'd rather avoid hitting somebody by accident even if it means letting the killer kill a few more people on purpose.

[lastlib]

62. Mostly becuz he black.................

In LaPeeErrorWorld, heroes have to have moar gunz an' be white as a freshly-washed KKK robe.....

[VOX]

70. In AmeriKKKa, the 2nd Amendment is for whites only.

POC are only issued fists. #MAGA

[lame54]

10. Where was his gun?...

Nice try buddy
Everybody knows only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun

[liberalmuse]

11. Pretty amazing.

He really is a hero, in spite of what he believes.

[Stuart G]

14. Yes, This man defines the word, "hero" and he is, "amazing"

[sdfernando]

74. Thats the thing...

A real hero never believes they actually are. Most say they were just trying to save life, just trying stay alive, or just doing their job. Humbleness about the act is part of what makes a hero a HERO.

[Angry Dragon]

13. KICK--needed no gun

[ailsagirl]

63. KICK

[pandr32]

15. He and others were just having breakfast

...supporting a local business establishment on a Sunday morning in an American town. Thanks to (cough) conservatives and the NRA, mentally unwell and brainwashed people with military-style assault weapons are lurking and threaten the promise of a wholesome American life for those who are trying to live it.

People like James Shaw Jr. are not looking to bribe public servants or exploit our laws for self-enrichment--they just want a life in the so-called land of the free.

He is the same age as my son. Thank goodness his instincts and quick thinking stopped the killer and he only received minor injuries. I am so sorry for the families and friends of the ones who didn't make it and I hope that the injured victims survive their injuries and can continue their lives without serious handicaps.

All of them are likely to suffer PTSD to some degree (veterans with PTSD are rated from 10-100 percent)--everyone in that Waffle House and at every single location of a shooting.

Maybe if Democrats proposed a law for gun manufacturers, their distributors, sponsors, and lobbyists to have to fund PTSD compensation to victims and witnesses of gun violence situations we might not only help these people to move forward with their lives without having to struggle financially with PTSD, but send a strong message about the reality of the 2nd Amendment fraud being perpetrated on our nation. Is this possible?

[Crunchy Frog]

28. They should have to fund ALL medical treatment for all victims of random gun violence,

including treatment of bystanders with PTSD. Those costs can then become part of the price of firearms and ammo.

[pandr32]

33. Even better!

[raven mad]

71. Absolutely agree, Crunchy Frog.

If we can get some laws like this passed - the prices for guns?

SKYROCKET! You know any funds like you suggest will come right out of the purchasers' pockets.

Let's also add on a 30% nuisance tax!!

[Cha]

60. Well said, pandr!

[Angry Dragon]

64. KICK

[brewens]

17. I'd love to find out a concealed carry guy was right there and froze, cowered or ran, like

most of them would probably do.

[SoCalMusicLover]

19. Or Hear One Of The Dead Had A Handgun

Which of course is of little use against someone with an AR-15 who attacks by surprise.

[Blue_true]

56. In Tennessee, likely some in the place. They froze.

I have only heard an AK47 fire once, but if an AR-15 is anything like it, the firing is enough to freeze the minds of most people that seldom or never hear that type of gunfire.

[Mr.Bill]

20. From what I have read, that opportunity came

when the gunman was reloading. Good thing he didn't have a larger magazine, huh?

[OldManTarHeel]

22. Mr. James Shaw Jr. . . . You are Indeed a Hero, good sir.

I salute you sir . . !

[Crunchy Frog]

23. You mean he stopped a shooter without being armed himself? But that's impossible!

The ONLY thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. That is a scientific fact. How will the gun humpers manage to explain this?

Hope his injuries were minor and that he recovers quickly.

[gademocrat7]

24. Brave young man.

He reacted well in a very dangerous siuation.

[EffieBlack]

25. Good guy with no gun

[slumcamper]

36. Good guy with a brain, courage, and heart. n/t

[blake2012]

27. Wouldnt it be he, and unarmed man, disarmed shooter?

Never heard of unarmed guys a man except in Monty Python’s Black Knight sketch.

[Stuart G]

29. k and r...for exposure.....James Shaw Jr....a hero and a great man who saved lives..

[fierywoman]

30. In all this we never hear the words "domestic terrorism".

[MaryMagdaline]

32. Good guy without a gun

[slumcamper]

37. Good guy with a brain, courage, and heart. n/t

[MaryMagdaline]

39. So true

[ProudLib72]

34. I'm hoping the NeverAgain people reach out to him

David Hogg, Emma Gonzales, and James Shaw Jr. Yep, need to spotlight this kind of heroism.

[Lint Head]

38. And he did it without having a gun.

[tblue37]

41. Imagine if that store's manager had called the cops to throw him out like the Starbucks

manager did. There would be many more dead victims.

[BootinUp]

42. A good man without a gun. nt

[montana_hazeleyes]

43. You absolutely are a hero Mr. Shaw!

You took action when many would have froze. You saved many lives.

[workinclasszero]

45. God bless you sir!

Many more would have died without this hero stopping the NRA zombie.

[DesertRat]

47. k&r

[KY_EnviroGuy]

48. WSM TV did an excellent interview with Mr. Shaw.

For latest coverage, see: http://www.wsmv.com/

I just happened to catch it on their live coverage and it should be posted later. He also has a burn on his hand, apparently from grabbing the hot gun barrel. In another live feed, they showed swat teams searching the apartment complex where the gunman lived. At around 3pm Eastern, he has not been apprehended.

Right-wing heads will spin over this one, as Shaw's friends openly testified as to his Christian faith and good character in the interview.

.....

[forthemiddle]

49. Thank You Mr. Shaw!

[oasis]

51. There's a couple of lessons to be learned here. Wake up America.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

53. "Only a 'good guy with a gun' can stop..."

Thank you, James Shaw, for quick thinking, seizing the moment, and saving lives.

Fortunately you and others are safe and further harm was prevented.

Where was the packin' NRA member who should have been guarding the restaurant?

[Vinca]

54. Wow - brave guy.

[Sherman A1]

55. A true hero

[Doodley]

57. That little wimpy boy with the gun, I would have kicked his ass too.

Then I woke up.

[packman]

58. I purpose we arm ALL Waffle House employees

That's the ONLY way to solve this problem.

[Timer]

66. Or, if the Orange Man-Baby had been there...

I "really" believe he'd go charging in there & save the day.

OT: I've been thinking someone should put together a book of the stupidest & most blatantly false statements ever spewed forth by our disgrace of a president. Of course, to be comprehensive it would have to be the size of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

[Cha]

59. Bravo, James Shaw Jr!

[malaise]

61. Not a squeak from the NRA, ReTHUGs or their

Con President

[sarcasmo]

65. Mr. Shaw is a hero, zero chance Trump recognizes this American Hero.

[JI7]

69. if he does Trump will say something like how he would have done the same or more

remember when he claimed he would have ran towards the shooting at the florida high school ?

[raven mad]

67. Thank you, James Shaw, Jr. You ARE a hero.

[Still In Wisconsin]

72. I was SO PROUD when I saw Trump's tweet praising this young man. Credit where credit is due!

Oh, wait, he's black and there was no Trump tweet praising this young man. NVM.