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Man who wrestled gun from Waffle House shooter: ‘I’m just a regular guy’

The man who wrestled the gun away from the shooter at a Waffle House in Nashville said he’s “just a regular guy” at a vigil for victims of the shooting on Tuesday.

James Shaw Jr. spoke to the crowd while holding his 4-year-old daughter Brooklyn, saying it was the first time he had seen her since the shooting.

“I’m just in a weird spot right now because I got a lot of sadness, but this is the first time I’ve seen her since the incident,” Shaw said, getting emotional.

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“I actually tried to count the hairs on her eyelashes just because I was like, I almost didn’t see them anymore,” he added.

Shaw has been hailed as a hero in the days since he stopped the mass shooting at the Waffle House on Sunday.

He suffered a gunshot wound and burns when he pried the gun away from the shooter. Four people were killed and at least three others injured in the shooting.

Shaw launched a crowdfunding campaign for the victims’ families after the shooting. That GoFundMe has raised more than $105,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

In return, reporter Yashar Ali started a GoFundMe for Shaw, raising more than $76,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Perhaps this money can be used for her college fund or some other education related expense. But I’d be just as happy if James used some of this money to take his family on a nice vacation,” Ali wrote.

Police captured suspected gunman Travis Reinking on Monday after a manhunt that lasted more than 24 hours.

Tags James Shaw Jr. Waffle House shooting

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