Heartbroken Families Speak Out On Waffle House Shooting Victims: ‘The Pain Is Unbearable’
Our thoughts go out to the friends and families of Akilah DaSilva, Joe R. Perez, Taurean C. Sanderlin and DeEbony Groves.
Posted April 24, 2018
On the early morning of Sunday, a terrorist killed four people and injured two at a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. The killer was Travis Reinking, 29, who had an AR-15. James Shaw Jr., 29, managed to wrestle the weapon out of Reinking’s hands, which made him run. The weapon was given to him by his father who was ordered by a court to not give his son a gun because of mental health issues.
SEE ALSO: The Epidemic Of White Male Terrorism And Its Connection To White Privilege
These beautiful souls were taken and the families have spoken out.
DeEbony Groves, 21
DeEbony Groves was a college senior at Belmont University and a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She was about to graduate in two weeks. Her grandmother said, “She was a sweetheart” and would visit her “every chance she could get.” Her school released a statement, which read in part, “The entire campus community is shocked and devastated by how such senseless violence has taken the life of this young woman, an individual full of immense potential. We extend our thoughts and prayers to her family and friends as they come to terms with unimaginable grief.”
Akilah Dasilva, 23
Akilah DaSilva was a student at Middle Tennessee State University who majored in musical engineering. His name means intelligent one who reasons and his mother Shaundelle Brooks said, “He spoke through his creativity and he entertained the world through his music.” Tia Waggoner, who was with Mr. DaSilva the night of the shooting, said on Facebook he was “the love of my life” and “the pain is unbearable.” They were together for five years.
Joe R. Perez, 20
Joe R. Perez moved to Nashville from Austin, Texas, where he graduated from Jack C. Hays High School. He worked at an appliance store with his older brother. His mother Patricia Perez wrote on Facebook, “Today is the hardest day of my life. Me, my husband and sons are broken right now with this loss. Our lives are shattered.” According to the New York Times, she also said, “I told him to be careful because he was out late and he said he would. And then a few hours later, he was gone. … And now I will never see him again. He was my baby.” Ms. Perez’s was supposed to visit him in Nashville on Wednesday. He planned to pick her up at the airport.
Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29
Taurean C. Sanderlin worked as a cook for Waffle House for over five years. He began working at the Nashville location when that particular chain opened five months ago. Reportedly, Sanderlin was going on a break and was shot and killed outside of the restaurant. According to the New York Times, “A man reached by phone who identified himself as Mr. Sanderlin’s brother declined to comment.”
Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
SEE ALSO:
Forgive But Don’t Forget: Remembering Barbara Bush’s Complicated Relationship With Black America

95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
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9. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

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Source: 26 of 95This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
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Source: 28 of 95This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
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Source: 30 of 95Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project National Office (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
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Source: 32 of 95Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project National Office (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
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Source: 38 of 95#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
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Source: 40 of 95#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
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Source: 42 of 95I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
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Source: 44 of 95I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
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Source: 45 of 95So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— Megan (@mutualpromisess) March 24, 2018
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Source: 47 of 95So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— Megan (@mutualpromisess) March 24, 2018
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Source: 49 of 95Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
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Source: 50 of 95Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
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Source: 51 of 95Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
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Source: 54 of 95Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
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Source: 56 of 95#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— messy bun + getting stuff done!☕️ (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
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— messy bun + getting stuff done!☕️ (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
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Source: 60 of 95#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
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Source: 62 of 95#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
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Source: 63 of 95I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
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Source: 65 of 95I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
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Source: 67 of 95These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
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Source: 69 of 95These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
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Source: 75 of 95#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— $notkameast (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
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Source: 77 of 95#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— $notkameast (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
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Source: 78 of 95The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
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Source: 80 of 95The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
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Source: 82 of 95I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
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Source: 83 of 95I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
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95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
Black folks were representing in full force at the dozens of March for Our Lives rallies held across the globe on March 24, 2018, attracting hundreds of thousands of students, activists, celebrities and other world citizens concerned about the disturbing levels of gun violence that plagues the U.S like no other nation. As the disproportionate victims of gun violence in America, Black people made sure their voices were heard. Have a look at the youthful faces of the country's current and future freedom fighters as well as their colorful, clever signs.
Heartbroken Families Speak Out On Waffle House Shooting Victims: ‘The Pain Is Unbearable’ was originally published on newsone.com