Hero Who Raised $150k for Shooting Victims' Families Just Got Life-Changing Reward
It’s often been said that “no good deed goes unpunished,” but that certainly isn’t the case for a hero who stepped up during a recent emergency and is now receiving a sizable reward.
James Shaw Jr. made headlines for jumping into action during the Waffle House shooting early Sunday morning in Tennessee. After a deranged man opened fire in the crowded restaurant, Shaw fought the criminal bare-handed and saved lives in the process.
“(Shaw) sustained a gunshot wound and burns when he grabbed the assault-style rifle from a gunman who opened fire at the restaurant early Sunday, killing four people and wounding at least three others,” reported The Hill.
“If it was going to come down to it, he was going to work to kill me,” Shaw remembered saying to himself during the incident. After grabbing the shooter, the 29-year-old bystander threw the attacker’s rifle behind a counter and continued to fight the other man until he fled.
James Shaw, the hero of the Waffle House shooting, was eating with a friend when the shooting began.
He says he heard the shots stop, so he moved. Shaw hit the shooter w/a door, wrestled him, got the gun out of his hands and threw it over the counter-top. pic.twitter.com/qCTwa48LUj
— Ellison Barber (@ellisonbarber) April 22, 2018
In the aftermath of the incident, Shaw appeared humble and quiet during media interviews, simply explaining that he was just a regular person who did what needed to be done. He even started a crowd-funding project for families of the victims in the shooting, which has raised nearly $150,000 as of early Wednesday evening.
Between risking his life and then helping to raise money for families, Shaw has done more than his share to assist the community.
Now the community is returning the favor.
According to The Hill, New York City-based reporter Yashar Ali started a separate GoFundMe project to benefit Shaw himself.
“Since that horrific shooting, (James Shaw) has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the victims and shown a level of humility that has inspired many of us,” Ali wrote.
“I normally don’t get involved directly in these matters, but James’ grace has inspired me to start this page to give him the support I feel he deserves,” the reporter continued.
“According to news reports, James has a four-year-old daughter,” the GoFundMe page explained. “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.”
Remember, Shaw didn’t request contributions for himself, but has been busy raising money for the victims. His noble actions have paid off, although that surely wasn’t his intent: In just one day, the fundraiser to assist James Shaw Jr. raised over $152,000.
Nearly 5,000 people have donated to create a sizable reward for the man who put his life on the line to help others.
America’s favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers, once explained the lesson his mother gave him when he was a boy. During tragic and frightening times, “look for the helpers,” she told him.
That’s good advice. The Tennessee shooting was a tragedy, but there was a brave “helper” at the scene — and now there are thousands of others who are stepping up to help him and the families affected.
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