The man suspected of opening fire at a Waffle House in Antioch has been taken into custody, police have confirmed.
Members of the Metro Nashville Police Narcotics unit arrested Travis Reinking Monday afternoon in a wooded area near Old Hickory Boulevard and Hobson Pike.
In a press conference, Metro Police Spokesman Don Aaron said Reinking was taken into custody at 1:07 p.m. He immediately requested a lawyer and has been charged with four counts of murder.
Nashville Mayor David Briley issued a statement, saying in part: "We are glad to know that our community will receive justice. The people of Antioch and all of Nashville can breathe a sigh of relief."
Police received a citizen's tip from the area of 5000 Mountain Springs Drive of someone going through a construction site near an apartment complex.
Tennessee Valley Authority workers told officers who responded to the area, “the person went through the woods," pointing them in the right direction.
Detectives saw a pathway in the woods and followed it until they spotted Reinking in the woods.
At that point, the detective drew down on him suspect, telling him to get on the ground. Reinking complied and was taken into custody.
Detectives said he was wearing a backpack which had a gun, ammunition, flashlight and a holster. He also had his wallet on him which contained an ID card that led detectives to confirm that he was in fact Travis Reinking.
He appeared before a magistrate, who informed Reinking of his charges and bond: 4 counts of criminal homicide and a $2 million bond.
Earlier in the day, officials confirmed that a laptop case believed to have belonged to Reinking was recovered in an area near Interstate 24.
Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said Monday morning that someone found the case – along with a handwritten ID card with Reinking's name on it – at I-24 and Old Hickory Boulevard.
"Intelligence information tells us that Reinking was in that immediate area on Saturday night," Aaron said. "At this time, we don't know if the case wound up there before the shooting or after the shooting."
Residents have been advised to be vigilant in the area of I-24 and Old Hickory Boulevard west all the way to the Rutherford County line.
So far, there have been no confirmed sightings of Reinking.
Aaron also confirmed that Reinking has also been linked to a vehicle theft at a Brentwood BMW dealership last week. More: Waffle House Shooting Suspect Linked To Brentwood Car Theft
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also released a more recent photo of Reinking, taken from when he was arrested in Washington, DC in July of 2017.
NEW PICTURE: Here is a more current picture of Travis Reinking, taken in July 2017 after his arrest in Washington, DC.
Thank you for continuing to stay alert and assist @MNPDNashville in tracking him down!
Spot him? Call 911! pic.twitter.com/BURsubrH2h
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) April 23, 2018
The mass shooting happened around 3:25 a.m. Sunday at 3571 Murfreesboro Pike near Hobson Pike.
The 29-year-old from Illinois was named a person of interest in the shooting.
4 Dead, 4 Injured In Waffle House Shooting
Officials said Reinking came to the Waffle House with the intent to kill. He was nude, wearing only a green jacket when he fatally shot 29-year-old Taurean C. Sanderlin and 20-year-old Joe R. Perez outside the building.
Two others, 21-year-old DeEbony Groves and 23-year-old Akilah Dasilva were fatally wounded inside the restaurant.
James Shaw was hiding near the bathrooms when he saw his chance to act. He rushed Reinking, wrestled for the gun, and was able to toss it over the counter, out of the gunman's reach.
This is James Shaw. He's a hero. His hands are burned from grabbing the barrel of a gun used to kill four people at a Nashville Waffle House. He says he's sorry he couldn't save more people. pic.twitter.com/QXIevQLfM1
— Chris Conte (@chrisconte) April 22, 2018
Remembering The Victims:
Taurean C. Sanderlin was an employee of the restaurant who was killed as he stood outside. Also killed outside was 20-year-old Joe R. Perez, of Nashville, who was a patron.
The third death at the scene was 21-year-old DeEbony Groves, of Gallatin. She was killed inside the restaurant. Groves was a student at Belmont University.
Akilah Dasilva, nicknamed Natrix, was passionate about his music and pursued a career in musical engineering at MTSU. He was wounded inside the restaurants and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
(From left to right: DeEbony Groves, Akilah DaSilva, Joe R. Perez and Taurean C. Sanderlin)
The Manhunt Continues
Sunday’s rainy weather proved to be problematic in authorities’ search effort. The rain washed away any scent that K9s could track, also forcing Metro’s chopper to be grounded.
MNPD officers, to include SWAT, have continued the search for Travis Reinking in the Antioch area overnight. There have been no credible sightings. The search will continue. All schools in the area have been cleared by officers. He was last seen Sun morn behind his apt complex. pic.twitter.com/ChY1ihCdKG
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) April 23, 2018
Police said they’re relying on the nearly 100 officers scouring this area for any clues.
If you see someone who looks like Reinking, do not approach him. You should immediately call 911.
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