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Waffle House shooter’s father faces up to three years in prison

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Illinois

* 2018…

The man accused of killing four people in a Nashville Waffle House used to send his father text messages in which he punctuated everyday chitchat with delusional rants.

Police say 29-year-old Travis Reinking was nearly naked, only wearing a green jacket, when he opened fire outside the restaurant on April 22 and then stormed inside. Police have said there would have been far more casualties if it weren’t for a quick-thinking restaurant patron who wrestled the AR-15 rifle away from the gunman.

By the time of the shooting, Reinking’s erratic behavior had already come to the attention of law enforcement, including the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois, where he lived part-time.

According to several incident reports, Reinking believed the singer Taylor Swift was stalking and harassing him, including hacking into his computer and phone. He believed the police and his family were part of the conspiracy, and his delusions went back to at least August 2014.

The local sheriff’s office allowed Reinking to keep his gun, even after multiple incidents, but then finally seized it after he showed up at the White House. The sheriff’s office gave Reinking’s gun to his father, who then gave it back to his son. And then after the Waffle House shooting, the local state’s attorney seemed very hesitant to bring charges against the father.

* But…

A rural Morton man now faces up to three years in prison after being found guilty Friday of illegally giving his son weapons that were later used in a 2018 mass shooting.

Jeffrey Reinking could also get probation when he is sentenced on June 17 on the charge of illegal delivery of a firearm to a person who had been treated for mental illness within the past five years.

During a one-day bench trial before Tazewell County Judge Chris Doscotch, prosecutors argued that Reinking knew his son, Travis, had undergone mental health treatment in 2016.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 20, 22 @ 3:03 pm

Comments

Three years for helping enable the deaths of four people seems like a very light sentence but at least there will be some accountability for his actions.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, May 20, 22 @ 3:20 pm
The “freedom” crowd is super hesitant to take guns away from anyone.

Comment by Sir Reel Friday, May 20, 22 @ 3:59 pm
The local media has had a lot of information on this case since the Waffle House shooting. The father had known for years that his son was delusional and dangerous. But, he still gave the gun back to his son. This was an AR-15 for heaven’ sake, a killing machine.

There has to be some accountability on the part of the family.

Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, May 20, 22 @ 4:20 pm
When even the sheriff in a conservative, mostly rural, presumably pro-gun county says, “Okay, now *here’s* a guy who’s too dangerous to own a firearm”…then you should probably listen to him.

Comment by Benjamin Friday, May 20, 22 @ 4:27 pm
Sir Reel - I am a member of the “freedom crowd” but I don’t believe this young man should have been allowed to have a gun. I would not be reluctant at all to take his guns given the circumstances. And I think his dad is getting off far too easily. It always surprises me how often parents are unwilling to face the reality that their children need help or discipline. This father surely could not have believed that no harm would come from his son possessing firearms. 4 people are dead because he gave in and returned a firearm to his son.

Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, May 20, 22 @ 4:32 pm