A judge later deems him fit for trial and he's indicted on 16 counts, including murder. On Saturday, a Nashville jury handed down four life sentences to the man convicted of killing them and wounding several others in an early-morning massacre at an Antioch Waffle House in 2018. The doctor said it's stress and her nerves, they got her under so much medication trying to control it," Anderson said. Where is Akilah?'" MNPD officers, to include SWAT, have continued the search for Travis Reinking in the Antioch area overnight. "Every morning, I wake up with the same thought: my baby is gone," she said. Any time I would go to sleep, I would dream about Taurean; I would dream we were talking and we do things together. There have been no credible sightings. (CBSNEWS) - Authorities have identified the victims of Sunday's shooting that left four people dead at a Waffle House in Tennessee. "He loved his work, he enjoyed his work. She hasn't slept right in four years, she said. She detailed her experience that night, starting with the moments the first saw Reinking. There was chaos. "I was just laying there with him telling him it was going to be OK. The pain is so great that some days I'm not sure I can even open my eyes.". I was just laying there with him, telling him everything was going to be OK, he said. I wanted to keep an eye on him to find my moment and find that opportunity. We both just got on the floor.". Shooting at Waffle House in Lehigh County sparks state police investigation The search will continue. A minute of silence was held for each of them inside the sanctuary at Mount Zion Baptist Church, which is just a few miles from the scene of the shooting. She said she now needed them because of the gunshot wound to her leg. I just looked in his eyes and was like, 'you're gonna be all right.'". Perez was killed outside, after Sanderlin. Waffle House shooter to serve life in prison sentences consecutively My hopes beyond probably any outcome.. On Saturday, he told reporters he wanted to keep the focus on the families who had lost loved ones in the massacre. Authorities released the names of all of those who died as Joe R. Perez, 20, of Nashville; Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29, Goodlettsville; Akilah Dasilva, 23, of Antioch; and DeEbony Groves, 21 of Gallatin. Di'Angelo Groves took the stand to identify his sister, DeEbony Groves. No one else was hurt. Yall didnt feel it, yall didnt smell it. His Illinois firearms authorization was revoked, in our understanding at the request of the FBI, Aaron said, adding that four weapons were seized by local police in Illinois. He said the two believed that Waffle House location was safer, in a better location and would provide the opportunity to make more money. On day two of the Waffle House shooting trial, jurors heard chilling details from another witness who survived the 2018 shooting. State police said in a news release that troopers were called to the Waffle House at 1783 Airport Road for a report of a shooting about 3 a.m. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I believe I saw James Shaw. The victimsAkilah Dasilva, DeEbony Groves, Joe Perez . He got out with an assault rifle, wearing only a jacket, nothing from the waist down. "Her grief is her grief and my grief is my grief and I will never understand.". She couldnt make it," Albert said. The only thing I had connecting was a little bit of skin on the back.". Nothing can bring the victims back to life or erase the scars of their murders, Funksaid. Day 1: What happened during the Waffle House shooter trial I try not to show, to keep my other sons strong so they dont see me break down," Joe Perez Sr. said. She begged God that Akilah would eventually respond. My brother, he wouldnt even get his ears pierced because of the pain. He knew his family members were calling hospitals. Perezs profile read, Now Im up all of a sudden | NEWERA. On Facebook and Twitter, he went by the nickname Jxthrowed. His cover post showed him pretending to eat a large wad of money. pic.twitter.com/ChY1ihCdKG, April 23, 2018: Reinking is taken into custody. Reinking pleads not guilty to charges related to the shooting. "My days now are spent with scheduled weekly visits to the cemetery," she said. Akilah died after one shot punctured his lungs. Testimony - April 8, 2019 - House Criminal Jurisprudence 1 - Texas Gun She was one of three seniors on her team, and she was a great role model for the other players because of her hard work and dedication to her studies and to her school., Dasilva, 23, was killed while dining with his girlfriend and brother. He still uses a lunchbox with her initials, DLG, on it. I had to think why were literally fighting off what I could do and not get injured. That's when he took action. 2023 www.tennessean.com. Friends called him a passionate musician who was pursuing a career in musical engineering at MTSU. "Taurean was a very happy person, but he was a quiet person. Akilah Dasilva was inside with his girlfriend and brother when he was shot. Abede witnessed his brother's last words after being shot in the lung, "I can't breathe. According to his Facebook profile, DaSilva was originally from Brooklyn, New York, and lived in Nashville. She was 21. "Shots were coming over my left shoulder," he said. I remember thinking, 'God, please give me a second chance.' Waffle House killer believes God told him to kill - New York Post She wished the families of victims in the Waffle House shooting knew none of this pain. I got into a bathroom and locked the door. The pair were best friends all their lives, as close as brothers. James Shaw Jr. the man who stopped Reinking said the whole night was a cluster of feelings of events he did and didn't want to do. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. His mother, Judy Reinking, told The Tennessean this week shehoped he'd be able to come. He has 52 friends on Facebook, and no public posts. A family in Austin is mourning the death of a loved one killed Sunday in a mass shooting at a Nashville-area Waffle House. Joe Perez Sr. spoke about how this family has been devastated by the shooting. Brooks said when she heard from Abede she drove frantically to the hospital. He was 29 years old when he died. Anderson remembered her nephew as a warm, happy person. Updated on: April 23, 2018 / 8:07 PM / CBS News Authorities have released details about the victims of Sunday's shooting that left four people dead at a Waffle House in Tennessee. According to The Tennesseean, Sanderlin worked for Waffle House for about five years. The victims who suffered non-fatal injuries were named as Shanita Waggoner, 21, of Nashville and Sharita Henderson, 24, of Antioch. Albert remembered the bond he had with his daughter, saying he was just like her, except a girl. T appears to refer to Taurean Sanderlin. The people at Waffle House were, in his mind, government agents.. YOURE GONE TOO SOON CUZZO SLEEP IN PEACE.. Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn will decide later whether the life sentences will run concurrently or consecutively based on statutory factors that guide his decision. Evans said Reinking had delusions that lead to the massacre. Nearly four years later, will the city finally get closure? Johns said Shaw kept saying "I fought him, I fought him.". Facebook "I want to prevent every mother from experiencing what I did to know she will grow old without her beloved child," she said. "[Cruz] said with every life that he saves, is in dedication for his brother, since his brother's life could not be saved. " I feel like her mom and dad knew she would be with me. "I realized we didn't have a lot of time," Henderson said. Inside, Brooks said she saw Akilah. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The prosecution showed Johns several pictures of the scene in the aftermath of the shooting, including a photo of the weapon used by Reinking that Shaw wrested away from him. Joe Perez was 20 when he died. Joe Perez, a 20-year-old man who was a customer at the Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee, was identified as one of the deceased victims in the mass shooting at the establishment, which police say was perpetrated by an Illinois man wielding an AR-15 who was wearing only a coat and nothing else. Perez said she then flew to Nashville and eventually went to collect her son's car, which was found with its flashing lights on and a flat tire. The two had dated for nearly seven years. Reinking burst into the Waffle House around 3:25 a.m. on April 22, 2018 and started spraying patrons and employees with an AR-15 rifle, police allege. I tried to explain to her I didn't know the address, and she kept getting frustrated I didn't know the address. She visits her daughter's grave weekly. "There was a voice that told me to do it, do it now. I want him with me, she said Thursday afternoon before the trial was complete. Both are in stable condition as of Monday. The best example I can you is her leg looked like a banana peel with no banana in it. Travis Reinking, convicted in the 2018 Waffle House mass shooting, will spend the rest of his life in prison, a Nashville jury decided Saturday. Travis Reinking was prosecuted for his actions, Moore said after the sentencing. Her social media presence is more robust. 20-Year-Old Joe Perez Is One of the Victims of Waffle House Shooting By Remezcla Estaff 04.23.18 at 11:44 am Law enforcement stand outside a Waffle House where four people were killed. Not just my spirit, not just my family, but also my mind," Patricia told the court. ", Day 1: Opening arguments, prosecution begins, James Shaw Jr. recounts wrestling gun away from Travis Reinking, Day 2: Prosecution calls victim, various law enforcement officers to testify, Day 3: Prosecution calls final witness before resting its case, Travis Reinking wrote he was being hacked, possibly delusional in letters to Taylor Swift, Oprah, Day 3: Defense calls its first witness, a forensic psychologist, to testify on Reinking's mental health, Day 4: Defense calls second psychologist, state calls rebuttal witnesses, On jail meal tray, Reinking drew depiction of Waffle House shooting, Day 5: Closing arguments, jury hears charges then begins deliberation. One photo on her Facebook page shows Judy and Jeff Reinking at Niagara Falls. Travis Reinking had a history of troubled behavior before his suspected attack. Joe Perez, the youngest victim, moved to Nashville from Texas a few months prior to the shooting and was also shot outside the restaurant. ", "In the moment, it's real rough to put a label on it, right? In one of the most dramatic: Jeff Reinking, Travis Reinkings father, is accused of giving guns back to his son after Travis Reinking was arrested near the White House, an incident during which Travis proclaimed to be a sovereign citizen, authorities revealed. She chose herwords with intention. "My son Christian blames himself for bringing his brother to Nashville. Sentencing for the remaining convictions will be handled later by the court. He had been studying musical engineering at Middle Tennessee State University. "But then, then I think I was supposed to be there. Anderson recounted. 20-Year-Old Joe Perez Is One of the Victims of Waffle House Shooting. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The defense attorneys for Reinking - Paul Bruno, Luke Evans and Kurt Haskell -declined to comment to reporters after the sentencing. Chris Dornblaser is the Digital Content Producer for the Morning Call. DeEbony was an amazing young woman with an incredibly bright future ahead of her. "He was yelling my name," Abede said. She was one of three seniors on her team, and she was a great role model for the other players because of her hard work and dedication to her studies and to her school.. I saw him come by me. There was a mass shooting at a Waffle House in Nashville, TN on April 22, 2018. "This was heavy on everybody's heart," said James Shaw Jr., who disarmed the shooter. We have learned that Reinking was arrested by the United States Secret Service for being in a restricted area near the White House in July 2017, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said in the news conference. "I remember looking at Akilah," she said. She wished she could turn back time. Tricia Perez, the mother of Joe Perez, was called to testify. All rights reserved. He was outside the Waffle House when the gunman began shooting and was the first person killed. On Saturday, a Nashville jury handed down four life sentences to the man convicted of killing. The shots were getting louder and louder. He left behind a dog, Rocco," she said. He held DeEbony Groves mothers hand as the jury read out 16 guilty verdicts Friday. State police . A friend from Texas wrote on Facebook, RIP to the homie Joe Perez crazy how youre gone bro Im still in shock.. He relives seeing the pain in his dying brother's eyes. He noted that Reinking bought extra magazines the day before the shooting and decided to bring his most powerful firearm. "No one's asking you to forgive him. I kept calling her phone and she didn't answer. "One of her sorority sisters left me a voicemail. One of her friends reached out to me on Facebook that she died. "But that mass murder provision isvery uncommon andis why the case is as serious as it is," he wrote. It was a lot more deafening than a handgun is.". There were warning signs aplenty. Three others, James Shaw Jr., Kayla Shaw, Sharita Henderson and Shantia Waggoner, were wounded in the shooting. ", "It hurts the fact to know that he died, and I didnt," Abede said. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Here's What We Know About The 4 Lives Taken In The Waffle House Shooting. The lady was upset I didn't know the address. Shaw said he hopes in some way the trial gave people a sense of what he and the other victims went through that night. The two had checked out one Waffle House before going to one closer to Henderson's condo. He said he thought he would be OK, because he thought the bullet only hit his arm, not realizing it hit his lung. 'This has broken me': Travis Reinking sentenced to four life sentences in Waffle House shooting, Waffle House shooting trial: Travis Reinking guilty on all counts, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In her emotional testimony, his mother Patricia Perez shared how the whole family was preparing to make the move to Nashville after her son Christian opened a new business. She passes it on her way to church. Prayers are up for you and the rest of the family. The proposed reform is not a new idea, but rather the same life-sentence parole eligibility timeline in place in Tennessee until the mid-1990s. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The moment I came on FB I find out my cousin Natrix DaSilva Got shot and died during the waffle house shooting. WAFFLE HOUSE SHOOTING SUSPECT THOUGHT TAYLOR SWIFT WAS STALKING HIM, WAS ARRESTED AT WHITE HOUSE. GOP senator vows to block Biden's DOJ picks over fallout f Biden walks off interview set before host is finished: 'The Biden presidency in one clip', ESPN dumping around 20 on-air stars in dramatic round of layoffs, Anheuser-Busch fires back after Dylan Mulvaney claims she was 'abandoned' during Bud Light backlash, Taylor Swift hits the recording studio and more star snaps, Millie Bobby Brown channels future father-in-law Jon Bon Jovi in leopard print, Tiffany Haddish pretends not to know peanut head Dale Moss after Cannes kiss, What in the hot hell is an everything shower? When deep down inside, that one special, significant piece will never be able to complete our puzzle," Baker testified. Shaw jumped in his truck, but realized he needed to call 911 but his phone was faced down on the countertop. Pennsylvania State troopers responded to reports of . Early Sunday morning in Antioch, Tennessee, the young lives of DeEbony Groves, Akilah DaSilva, Joe R. Perez, and Taurean C . All of the victims were in their 20s, including Taurean C. Sanderlin, who worked at the restaurant, 23-year-old Akilah DaSilva, and 21-year-old DeEbony Groves. Sanderlin, 29, was the lone Waffle House employee killed in the attack. He sat with his parents in the front row of the gallery. Reinking was convicted on all 16 counts relating to the shooting, including the first-degree murder of Joe Perez Jr., Taurean Sanderlin, Akilah Dasilva and DeEbony Groves. The jury foreperson announced the sentences in confident tones. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for VIGIN ALEXANDRE of LYS LEZ LANNOY, HAUTS DE FRANCE. "Our lives were completely destroyed," she said. Sign up for our newsletter and receive the coolest updates! Four people died, including Joe Perez, a 20-year-old originally from Texas. He said the last time he communicated with her was on Instagram. Patricia said in the aftermath of losing her son, Christian closed his business and moved home. He called Taurean multiple times but turned on the news when he didnt get an answer. I think thats what most affects us the most.". I'm trying to keep everything afloat while shes been getting help. Reinking was nude during the shooting and wearing only a jacket, authorities said. The question was passed to the jury just after noon Saturday to deliberate, they returned less than two hours later. I was thinking to myself if no one is going to come for me, the last thing I could remember was my mom's making me laugh. Waffle House shooting on Airport Road injures one - The Morning Call Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Akilah's girlfriend, Shantia Waggoner, took the stand after the mid-afternoon recess. [Top photo: Getty; Others: Facebook screenshots]. Blue was her son's favorite color. The case was on hold for months while Reinking was treated for schizophrenia in a mental health facility. Her youngest, her baby. In addition to the first-degree murder convictions, Reinking, 33, was found guilty ofrelated counts, including attempted murder and weapons possession charges. VIGIN ALEXANDRE Company Profile - Dun & Bradstreet Tears ran down his face as he recounted his brother's last words were that he couldn't breathe. Blanch Anderson, the aunt of Taurean Sanderlin, spoke on behalf of his parents Wanda and Charles, who were too emotionally distressed to speak. I wake up sometimes crying, so I quit going to sleep.". He said he remembered seeing Reinking in a truck, staring at the two of them. Waffle House shooter arrested, after cops say he stole BMW days before Groves was 21-year-old student studying social work and set to graduate college in May, according to a GoFundMepage set up by her family. Four others were injured. One of the dead was 20 year-old Joe R. Perez from the Kyle, Texas area. It was the day to remember Joe Perez Jr., Taurean Sanderlin, Akilah DaSilva and DeEbony Groves. Im gonna step into that light. A lawyer for Jeffrey Reinking did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request for comment. "I go around and speak and women's events on her behalf, and every time I pose for a picture, I cry. 4 a.m. Employees wore orange ribbons and hugged each other, and some of them wept. No one disputes that Reinking is severely mentally ill. Evans reminded jurors they were allowed to consider that in their sentencing decision even though they did not find it persuasive in their verdict. Facebook. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker. She arrived just as the ambulance carrying Akilah arrived. DeEbony Groves, 21, of Gallatin, was a star basketball player at Gallatin High School who was attending college Belmont University, according to The Tennessean. A pinned tweet from Joe Perezs Twitter page, which dates to 2015, reads, U weak minded, me & u aint tha same. He also wrote, Pushing myself to get the things I deserve., He also wrote: Im so ready to be off work ? In May 2017, he wrote, F*ck it sh*t happens right. He also wrote, Being hurt by someone you care for is one of the sh*ttiest feelings ever., In April 2017, Perez wrote, Just got pulled over and the cop asks Andrea no habla ingles lmao he assumed she was from Mexico Im dead ? He also wrote, Too focused, too blessed.. After shooting Perez and the other victims, and being disarmed by a heroic customer of his AR-15, Reinking is alleged to have fled the restaurant, and he hasnt been seen since. . Evans said Reinking was plagued by paranoia and several delusions, including that he was Taylor Swifts boyfriend and she was stalking him and had broken into his home and sexually assaulted him. He also had to watch the surveillance video of the incident and describe who people were along with his actions that night. "They had so much more life to give." No parent should have to bury their child, but I did," she said. Recalling the hours after the shooting, Murray said he had 40 missed calls and missed texts from friends about something happening about the Waffle House. . "My leg was completely severed. Yall didnt hear stuff. He stands 64, weighs 180 pounds, and should be considered armed and dangerous, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation wrote on Twitter. 2018L55. Albert spoke about the devastation he and his family have felt after her death. | Post Poppin with Asia Grace, R.I.P. "I didn't realize just how intertwined our lives really were until after she passed.". I aint doing it anymore. "I remember thinking, 'what's happening? I wanted to help her, but I just couldn't help her. The verdict thwarted an attempted insanity plea from his defense attorneys. Patricia said. Waggoner said the gunshots kept coming, wondering when they were going to stop. Since then, we have provided crane services for many types of jobs. Reinking's 13-year-old brother attended the sentencing hearing Saturday. Alan Arkin: Little Miss Sunshine Oscar-Winner Was 89, Kevin Costner can't afford ex Christine's child support demands without 'Yellowstone': report. I've been hard on myself also. "I distinctively I remember loud commotion and then everyone was running. Its so hard to learn how much he was hurting when we didnt know, she said Thursday. Lawyers for both sides have been silent on this case for years under a court-issued gag order. DeEbony Groves was from Gallatin and a senior at Belmont, majoring in social work. Powered by. She got a scholarship to Belmont, was about to graduate, everything was great.". Before deciding his sentence, a jury of 12 people heard from multiple family members of the victims. "For the jury to sentence to life without parole, the jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt one or more statutory aggravating factors," Raybin said in an email, referencing both the mass murder element and the threat of death to more than two people. This story has been shared 184,922 times. "I remember looking at my leg, saying, 'God, please help me,'" Henderson said. Defense lawyer Luke Evans said in court that his client suffers from schizophrenia, which has only gotten worse over the years. I had asked for help and he said he couldn't help me at the moment. Patricia Perez, mother of Joe Perez Jr., was the first person to take the stand on Friday. . Where are my sons? The mother wrote on Facebook that she works at J&J Cranes, worked at Methodist Hospital, studied at Illinois Central College, went to Morton High school in Morton, Illinois, and lives and is from Morton, Illinois. He killed four people before a man heroically wrestled the gun away from him. "Its changed every last one of us my mom, my siblings, me. A 1995 state law prohibitsinmates sentenced to life in prison from having a paroleeligibility hearing until after they have served 51 years. "Wanda has had so much stress she breaks out in all these big whelps on her body. The fourth witness of the day was Chelsey Owens, who was ending the night with friends at the Waffle House. "I know for myself, I can't sleep. Part of that inquiry requires learning how--and why--Travis Reinking came to possess the AR-15 assault rifle.. During her testimony, the prosecution showed images Connor scanned when she was documenting the crime scene. This is never going away. "I'm doing my best.". Two of them were fatally shot outside the restaurant: Waffle House employee Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29, and customer Joe R. Perez, 20.