DeEbony LaShea Groves, a 21-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on April 22, 2018, in a mass shooting at a Waffle House restaurant in Antioch, Tennessee. A senior at Belmont University, Groves was remembered as a bright and hardworking student with a promising future.
The incident unfolded in the early morning hours when a gunman, identified as Travis Reinking, opened fire in the restaurant's parking lot before moving inside. Clad only in a green jacket, Reinking used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the attack, killing four people and injuring several others. Groves was inside the Waffle House when she was fatally shot. The rampage was halted by an unarmed customer, James Shaw Jr., who wrestled the rifle away from the shooter, preventing further loss of life.
Following the shooting, Reinking fled the scene, prompting a 34-hour manhunt that ended with his capture in a wooded area near his apartment. The investigation revealed a history of disturbed behavior, including previous encounters with law enforcement. Authorities had even revoked his firearms license and confiscated his weapons, but his father had returned them to him.
Reinking was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, as well as other offenses related to the shooting. During his trial, his defense team argued that he was not guilty by reason of insanity, citing a history of delusions and severe schizophrenia. Prosecutors countered that the attack was premeditated, pointing to evidence that he had planned to appear insane if caught. In February 2022, a jury found Travis Reinking guilty on all 16 counts against him, including the four counts of premeditated first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
