4 dead in Waffle House shooting in Tennessee; suspect sought
A man wearing nothing but a green jacket and brandishing an assault rifle stormed a Waffle House restaurant in Tennessee and shot four people to death before dawn Sunday, according to police, who credited a customer with saving lives by wresting the gunman's weapon away. The gunman shot people in the parking lot before entering the restaurant, where he continued firing until a customer snatched the rifle, Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said. Four people were injured. The police department tweeted that authorities are searching for 29-year-old Travis Reinking. Police named him as a person of interest because the pickup truck the gunman drove to the restaurant was registered to Reinking. Witness Chuck Cordero told The Tennessean newspaper he had stopped to get a cup of coffee and was outside the restaurant when he saw the chaos unfold around 3:25 a.m. 'He did not say anything,' Cordero said of the gunman, who he described as 'all business.' Cordero said the man who wrested the gun from the suspect saved lives. 'Had that guy had a chance to reload his weapon, there was plenty more people in that restaurant,' he said. Police identified the customer as 29-year-old James Shaw, Jr. Shaw told the Tennessean in an interview that he was 'just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it.' The newspaper said Shaw was grazed by a bullet, treated and released. 'When I was in the ambulance to hospital I kept thinking that I'm going to wake up and it's not going to be real,' Shaw said. 'It is something out a movie. I'm OK though, but I hate that it happened.' Police spokesman Aaron said three people died at the restaurant and one person died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where two others were being treated for gunshot wounds. Medical Center spokeswoman Jennifer Wetzel said one was in critical condition and the other was in critical but stable condition. TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center spokeswoman Katie Radel in Nashville said two people were treated for minor injuries and released. Aaron said the gunman arrived at the restaurant, sat in the parking lot for four minutes before shooting two people outside, then entering. Inside, Shaw grabbed the rifle from the suspect and tossed it over a counter, Aaron said. After that, the gunman fled. 'No doubt he saved many lives,' Aaron said of the customer, who he described as a hero. After fleeing, the suspect shed his jacket. Aaron said he lived at an apartment complex in the working- and middle-class area of southeast Nashville and, based on witness reports, went there and put on a pair of pants. Aaron said witnesses saw a man in a nearby wooded area, and police were still tracking the man more than eight hours after the shooting. Police said Reinking, the person of interest to whom the truck the gunman drove was registered, was from Morton, Illinois. Later on Sunday, Metro Nashville police tweeted that they were drafting murder warrants against him. Aaron said Reinking was known to both Illinois and federal law enforcement. The victims' names weren't immediately released. 'This is a very sad day for the Waffle House family,' the company said in a statement on Twitter. 'We ask for everyone to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.' Nashville Mayor David Briley said the shooting represents 'a tragic day' for the city. 'My heart goes out to the families & friends of every person who was killed or wounded in this morning's shooting. I know all of their lives will be forever changed by this devastating crime,' Briley said in an emailed statement. U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, whose district includes Nashville, said in an emailed statement that the shooting shows the need for tighter restrictions on 'widespread civilian access to military-grade assault weapons.' Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said he and his wife, Crissy, 'are deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Antioch early this morning, and we mourn the lives taken in this senseless act of violence.' ___ Associated Press writer John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia, contributed to this report.
What is Earth Day? 5 things to know
Sunday is Earth Day 2018, and more than one billion people across the globe are expected to celebrate with environmentally friendly events. But what exactly is Earth Day? Here's what you need to know: >> Read more trending news 1. When did Earth Day start? The first Earth Day celebration took place 48 years ago, in 1970, after a devastating oil spill in America brought environmental issues to the forefront of public consciousness. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 22 million people across the country came out in support of environmental reform. 'That day left a permanent impact on the politics of America,' Gaylord Nelson wrote in the April 1980 edition of the EPA Journal. 'It forcibly thrust the issue of environmental quality and resources conservation into the political dialogue of the nation. 'It showed political and opinion leadership of the country that the people cared, that they were ready for political action, that the politicians had better get ready, too. In short, Earth Day launched the environmental decade with a bang.' Since then, celebrations have only grown. This year, organizers estimate more than one billion people in 192 countries will participate in events the world over. The day is celebrated each year on April 22. >> Target’s Earth Day car seat recycling program offers 20 percent off new car seat, stroller 2. Is there a theme for Earth Day 2018? This year, organizers are focusing on curbing plastic pollution. 'Our goals include ending single-use plastics, promoting alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials, promoting 100 percent recycling of plastics, corporate and government accountability and changing human behavior concerning plastics,' the Earth Day Network, which partners with tens of thousands of organizations in 192 countries to organize Earth Day events, said on its website. The organization also said it 'will educate millions of people about the health and other risks associated with the use and disposal of plastics, including pollution of our oceans, water, and wildlife, and about the growing body of evidence that decomposing plastics are creating serious global problems.' Read more here. >> Antarctica's ice retreating 5 times faster than normal, study reveals 3. How are people celebrating? In Tokyo, thousands of people will attend beach cleanups, concerts, art exhibits, classes and other events coordinated by the Green Room Festival, according to the Earth Day Network. In India's Karnataka state, a 'no plastic' event will feature workshops led by 'organizations that are champions of environmental sustainability in fields including electric vehicles, solar power and zero-waste living,' the network said. Cleanups also were scheduled in Palm Beach, Florida; New York; New Jersey and other locations across the United States and worldwide. Read more here. 4. What are businesses doing? Google marked Earth Day with a 'video doodle' featuring primatologist Jane Goodall. >> Click here to watch “It is so important in the world today that we feel hopeful and do our part to protect life on Earth,' Goodall said. 'I am hopeful that this Earth Day Google Doodle will live as a reminder for people across the globe that there is still so much in the world worth fighting for. So much that is beautiful, so many wonderful people working to reverse the harm, to help protect species and their environments. And there are so, so many young people, like those in JGI’s Roots & Shoots program, dedicated to making this a better world. With all of us working together, I am hopeful that it is not too late to turn things around, if we all do our part for this beautiful planet.” Read more about the doodle here. Apple also joined in on the celebrations, announcing on April 19 that 'for every device received at Apple stores and apple.com through the Apple GiveBack program from now through April 30, the company will make a donation to the nonprofit Conservation International.' In addition, Apple 'debuted Daisy, a robot that can more efficiently disassemble iPhone to recover valuable materials,' according to a company press release. “At Apple, we’re constantly working toward smart solutions to address climate change and conserve our planet’s precious resources,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social Initiatives, said in a statement. “In recognition of Earth Day, we are making it as simple as possible for our customers to recycle devices and do something good for the planet through Apple GiveBack. We’re also thrilled to introduce Daisy to the world, as she represents what’s possible when innovation and conservation meet.” Read more here. >> Tips for celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney's Animal Kingdom 5. How can I get involved? There are multiple ways to get into the Earth Day spirit, from participating in a local event to changing your bills from paper to paperless. Here are some suggestions from the Earth Day Network: Urge your local elected officials or businesses to make a substantial tree planting commitment by starting a letter-writing campaign or online petition. Lead a recycling drive to collect as much plastic, metal, and glass as possible. Pick up trash at a local park or beach. Set up a screening of an environmentally themed movie. Consider supplementing the screening with a speaker who can lead a Q&A following the film.
Five players who stood out during Georgia’s G-Day game
Georgia’s annual G-Day Game took place Saturday in front of a Sanford Stadium crowd of more than 82,000, and the fans likely saw a lot that they liked. The Black team pulled away with a dominant third quarter to earn a 21-12 win. After leading 7-6 at halftime, the Black team used a 14-0 third quarter to take control. Here are the 5 players who stood out in the game as Georgia wraps up its spring practice. Deandre Baker: The senior defensive back got the scoring started with a 32-yard interception return in the first quarter. Baker stepped right in front of Jake Fromm’s pass and cruised into the end zone to get the Black team on the board. UGA concludes spring practice with G-Day game | Photos Justin Fields: The freshman quarterback came alive in the third quarter to lead the Black team to its 14-0 advantage in the quarter. Fields was 9-of-16 for 118 yards in the first half, but he was 5-of-7 for 74 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter. Fields finished 18-of-33 for 207 yards with the touchdown and one interception. Brian Herrien: The junior running back finished with 34 yards on 5 carries, and he had 4 receptions for 44 yards to lead the Red team offense. Richard LeCounte: The sophomore defensive back had an interception and was all over the Red team’s wide receivers the entire game, finishing with 3 tackles. Monty Rice: The sophomore linebacker, who could step in for former standout Roquan Smith at inside linebacker, finished with a game-high 14 tackles and a sack.
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