Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday expressed gratitude to the “Waffle House hero” after a shooting in a Nashville-area restaurant.
James Shaw Jr. is considered to be a hero and credited with saving lives after he wrestled the weapon away from the gunman last weekend. Four people were killed in the shooting.
Pence thanked Shaw Jr. in a tweet which came four days after the shooting and as the Trump administration has faced some criticism.
“Tragic shooting in Tennessee earlier this week,” Pence tweeted late Thursday. “Thanks, James Shaw Jr. for your courageous actions to save lives and your continued efforts to help others. You’re an American HERO!
According to The Hill, Shaw started a GoFundMe meant for the families of the victims, which raised more than $171,000. Also, a reporter later started another fundraiser for Shaw himself, raising more than $180,000.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also praised Shaw’s “heroic actions” during a White House press conference on Monday.
However, President Donald Trump has not said anything or tweeted about Shaw Jr. or the shooting, prompting some critics to accuse the president of having a double standard when it comes to white shooters.
CNN host Don Lemon on Monday stated that the reason why President Trump had not tweeted anything about the incident is that the shooter was not Muslim.
Suspected shooter Travis Reinking is in custody and is been charged with multiple counts of criminal homicide and attempted murder.
“It would be nice if he tweeted about the four people who lost their lives in the Waffle House, the four black people who lost their lives, and the black hero from that, but not unless it’s a Muslim does he tweet about something like that,” Lemon said.
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