3 Dead, 4 Wounded in Nashville Waffle House Shooting

Update 8:44 a.m. CT:

A fourth person had died from their injuries sustained in the shooting. An updated report can be found here.

Original Story:

Three people are dead and four more are wounded after a man opened fire at a Nashville, Tennessee, Waffle House early Sunday morning.

The shooter, believed to be Illinois resident Travis Reinking, fired several shots in the restaurant, located at 3571 Murfreesboro Pike, using a rifle at 3:25 a.m.

A patron wrestled the gun away from the shooter, who then fled on foot. He was wearing a coat during the shooting, but shed it as he escaped.

Nashville police are currently searching for Reinking, who was last seen near the tree line of Mountain View Apartments, located on Mountain Springs Drive. He was wearing black pants and no shirt.

Police have declared Reinking as “person of interest” because the shooter drove a car registered to him to the scene. He also fits the current released description of the gunman, “a white man with short hair.”

No victim identities have been released as of press time.

Waffle House has issued a brief statement on the shooting, in which they asks for thoughts and prayers for the victims of the shooting.

“This is a very sad day for the Waffle House family,” the company said in a statement. “We ask for everyone to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.”

The company later issued a lengthier statement to news outlets.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” Waffle House told ABC News. “Right now, our first thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we will be there for them in this most difficult time. We are still gathering the details, and so we do not have much information to share … This is a very sad day for the Waffle House family.”

Nashville Mayor David Briley also issued a response to the incident on Twitter.

“It’s a tragic day for our city anytime people lose their lives at the hands of a gunman,” Briley wrote. “My heart goes out to the families [and] 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.”

He continued, “There’s clearly more to be said about these circumstances, but for now I ask Nashville to pray for and rally around these victims and join me in thanking [Metropolitan Nashville Police Department] as it works to find and apprehend the shooter.”