| Advertisement |
May 13 (UPI) -- Waffle House shooting hero James Shaw Jr. met with survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting Saturday. Shaw, 29, joined a group of Stoneman Douglas students, many of whom have become advocates against gun violence following the February shooting that killed 17 people, for breakfast in Parkland, Fla.
Advertisement
"We met a hero today," March for Our Lives, a group including Parkland survivors Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg which organized a rally in Washington D.C. in March, wrote on Twitter.
Shaw was credited with saving several lives by disarming gunman Travis Reinking and throwing his gun over the counter of the Nashville, Tenn., Waffle House to end the shooting, which killed four people.
He wrote on Twitter that meeting the Parkland survivors was "a great joy" and said he was moved by the "fire and inspiration" in their eyes.
"Great meeting you all, let's keep inspiring and bringing people together," Shaw wrote.
Gonzalez, who has called Shaw one of her personal heroes, said the meeting was "the Most Legendary Breakfast of her life."
I met one of my heros today@Emma4Change pic.twitter.com/EQZYERiRGE
- James Shaw Jr. (@JamesShawJr9) May 12, 2018
Fellow Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky also praised Shaw as a hero and noted Gonzalez managed to win him a stuffed bear from the restaurant's claw machine.
"There are few heroes out there with the strength and determination of @JamesShawJr9, who has shown the world nothing but kindness and grace. Thank you James for being the hero we need," Kasky wrote.
Hogg was astounded by the meeting and expressed optimism for their shared cause.
"Lots of work ahead but the young people will win," Hogg wrote.
Following the shooting Shaw launched a GoFundMe campaign which has raised more than $240,000 for the families of the four people killed.
