The Waffle House shooting suspect was previously arrested near the White House in 2017, had 4 guns confiscated then returned to him

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The Waffle House shooting suspect was previously arrested near the White House in 2017, had 4 guns confiscated then returned to him

waffle house shooting ak-15

Metro Nashville Police Department via Associated Press

This photo provided by the Metro Nashville Police Department photo shows the rifle used in the deadly shooting at a Waffle House on Sunday, April 22, 2018, in the Antioch neighborhood of Nashville.

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  • The suspected nude Waffle House shooter was arrested last year by the Secret Service.
  • Travis Reinking, 29, allegedly killed four people and injured two at a restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday morning.
  • Reinking's four guns were seized by authorities after his 2017 arrest, but later returned to him.
  • Authorities believe he may still be armed with two guns.


The man suspected of fatally gunning down four people at a Nashville Waffle House on Sunday was previously arrested by the Secret Service in 2017 for being in a restricted area near the White House, authorities said.

A manhunt is still underway for 29-year-old Travis Reinking, who authorities believe could be armed with two guns.

Authorities alleged that Reinking fled the restaurant on foot - and wearing no clothing - early Sunday morning, after a patron heroically tackled him and wrestled away his weapon. The Metro Nashville Police Department warned that Reinking could still be armed and dangerous.

"Keep your doors locked, keep your eyes open," Metro Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron told CNN. "If you see this individual - if you see a nude guy walking around this morning - call the police department immediately."

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Police also said Sunday that Reinking's firearms authorization had been revoked after his 2017 arrest, at the request of the FBI. Authorities had seized his four weapons but returned them to Reinking's father, who said he returned them to his son.

Nashville police said they recovered two of Reinking's guns after Sunday's massacre - including the AK-15 he allegedly brought to the Waffle House, but believe he could still be armed with the two remaining weapons.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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