NEWSCASTER: An early morning breakfast. Four people dead and a shooter on the run. Tonight the story of heartbreaking loss, of unspeakable fear, and of one man who heroically stepped in to stop a killer's rampage.
(music)
JAMES SHAW, JR.: I don't really care about being called a hero now. I feel that anybody could have done what I did. That night, we hear what we thought were dishes crashing to the ground, and I see all of the Waffle House workers and employees scatter and try to take cover. And then one bullet grazes me, and this is where I become very calm, and there was no more fear. It was reaction--get the gun, remove the gun from him. It worked out in my favor.
(music)
SHIRL BAKER: DeEbony was amazing. Just simply gorgeous. She had such an amazing smile.
As I close my eyes, I can just see her now. I had no idea, no clue… no clue that she was at the Waffle House.
JAMES SHAW, JR.: When I first met the victims' families, it was very emotional.
SHIRL BAKER: I honestly believe that if James had not have moved when he did, there would not have been any witnesses.
JAMES SHAW, JR.: It was devastating to have to go face them. Somebody had lost some siblings, somebody lost some children, and it was going to hurt. So the least I figured I could do is try to ease their financial burden, the strain of just medical bills and for the funeral. So we raised $241,826.
SHIRL BAKER: I didn't know him, he didn't know me. And my family is so thankful for everything that he's done.
JAMES SHAW, JR.: The hero title is just a title. It doesn't hold any real weight. What holds real weight is helping people out and trying to help see them through what they're going through.
SHIRL BAKER: I've prayed, I can't remember how many times, "Lord, put the right people at the right place at the right time." And you never know when you are going to need that. But through this tragedy, he's done just that.
