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Update: On March 14, 2019, the father of the Waffle House shooter, Jeffrey Reinking, was charged with unlawful delivery of a firearm for giving his violent son back firearms that were seized during a mental health crisis (schizophrenia). Reinking’s son killed four people in the space of 42 seconds with an AR-15 that was returned to him. Thanks to everyone who contacted Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz to urge him to bring charges. If found guilty, Reinking’s punishment ranges from probation to 3 years in prison.
Travis Reinking, the 29 year-old gunman who killed four people and injured two others at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee on April 23, 2018, had a long history of severe mental illness and recklessness with guns. That history was well-known by his family, law enforcement, co-workers, and everyone else he came into contact with.
After he attempted to gain unlawful entry to the White House in July of last year, the FBI and Secret Service asked Illinois law enforcement to revoke Reinking’s Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card and seize his firearms. The Tazewell Country Sheriff’s Office carried out the seizure and gave the firearms to another FOID card holder, Reinking’s father Jeffrey Reinking, as allowed by state law.
For some unknown reason, Jeffrey Reinking gave his delusional, violent son his AR-15 assault rifle and three other firearms back when Travis moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the fall of 2017. This was in clear violation of an Illinois state law that prohibits residents from selling/transferring firearms to people they know are not in possession of a FOID card.
Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz will be deciding whether to bring charges against Jeffrey Reinking. Please contact him through one of the channels below with the following message (personalized to your liking):
Please bring charges against Jeffrey Reinking, the father of Waffle House shooter Travis Reinking, for illegally transferring firearms to his son when he knew Travis no longer possessed a FOID card. This was clearly a violation of Illinois state law. Giving someone four guns when they move to another state is not a “temporary transfer.” Jeffrey Reiking knew his son was moving far away and would have full control over these weapons. If that law is going to have ANY ability to stop dangerous people from getting firearms, then it must be enforced. There is no excuse not to bring charges in this case with four people dead and two others injured. Hold Jeffrey Reinking accountable and send a clear message to others who would think of transferring firearms to unstable, violent people.
State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz
Phone: (309) 477-2205
Email: sa@tazewell.com
Once you have contacted Attorney Umholtz, fill out the three fields below and click the orange banner to report taking action!