The 29-year-old hero who bravely risked his life to disarm a gunman who opened fire in a Tennessee Waffle House Sunday morning went to Sunday mass with his family just hours after the ordeal.
James Shaw Jr. told Fox News on Tuesday that just hours after stopping the shooter from taking more lives and receiving medical treatment at a hospital for his injuries, he went to Sunday mass with his family and friends.
Shaw, who has a four-year-old daughter, explained that he wanted to "begin the healing process and persevere" through it. He added that he didn’t want to be alone after the scary encounter.
"It just felt good to be around a lot of love," he said. "It just made sense for me to go to church."
A gunman opened fire at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee, on Sunday, killing four people and injuring two others.
An unarmed Shaw courageously charged at the gunman, wrestled the gun away from him, and threw it over the counter. He then pushed the shooter out of the door to prevent him from hurting anyone else.
Shaw sustained second-degree burns to his hands after grabbing the barrel of the shooter’s AR-15 rifle as well as cuts from the altercation. He was treated at a nearby hospital after the incident.
He has been hailed a hero by authorities and witnesses alike, though he refuses to accept the praise.
Shaw started a GoFundMe page for the shooting victims and their families on Sunday, raising over $120,000 in just two days. His goal was just $15,000.
To offer Shaw support for his bravery and humility following the shooting, a GoFundMe page was launched in his honor by Yashar Ali, a writer for New York Magazine and the Huffington Post, MRCTV reported.
Ali writes in the page description, “James Shaw Jr. put his life on the line when he took on the gunman who killed four people at a Nashville area Waffle House. Since that horrific shooting, he has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the victims and shown a level of humility that has inspired many of us.
“I normally don't get involved directly in these matters, but James' grace has inspired me to start this page to give him the support I feel he deserves.
“According to news reports, James has a four-year-old daughter. Perhaps this money can be used for her college fund or some other education related expense. But I'd be just as happy if James used some of this money to take his family on a nice vacation.”
In just 21 hours over $104,100 has been raised for Shaw, surpassing the page goal of $100,000.