Man who wrestled gun from Waffle House shooter raises more than $45K for victims’ families

A man being hailed as a hero after wrestling a gun from a man in a Nashville, Tenn., Waffle House has raised more than $45,000 for the families of the victims.

James Shaw Jr., 29, sustained a gunshot wound and burns when he grabbed the assault-style rifle from a gunman who opened fire at the restaurant early Sunday, killing four people and wounding at least three others.

{mosads}“I’m not a hero. I’m just a regular person, and I think anybody could have did what I did if they are just pushed into that kind of cage,” Shaw said at a news conference, according to The Washington Post.

“You have to either react or you’re going to fold, and I chose to react because I didn’t see any other way of living, and that’s all I wanted to do. I just wanted to live.”

Shaw created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the victims’ families. It had raised nearly twice its $15,000 goal in just 19 hours. As of early Monday evening, the page had raised nearly $46,000.

“Please take the time to donate as all of the proceeds will be given to the families,” the page reads. “Thank you again for your generosity and blessings!”

More than 800 people have donated so far, with many praising Shaw’s courage in addition to expressing condolences for the victims.

“Thank you for your bravery, Mr. Shaw,” one donor wrote. “You are the future of our country. Please take care of yourself to heal from your traumatic experience, and God bless you.”

The suspected gunman, 29-year-old Travis Reinking, was captured by police Monday afternoon after a manhunt lasting more than 24 hours.

The White House praised Shaw’s “heroic actions” during a press briefing Monday.

—Updated at 6:40 p.m.