'I'm not a hero,' says man who wrested rifle from Waffle House gunman

A young man sprang up to action to save many lives from a potential mass murder. But he doesn't consider himself a hero.

James Shaw Jr., the man who is accredited of saving several lives by wrestling away an AR-15 from a shooter at a Tennessee Waffle House, stated that he only acted in the face of danger to save himself.

According to New York Post, the shooter, identified as 29-year-old Travis Reinking, killed four people and injured many others before Shaw took the matters into his own hands.

In his statement, he has now revealed that he feels "selfish" while acknowledging his bravery and listening to others call him a hero.

“I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it,” the online source quoted him as revealing.

Shaw and his group of friends had just arrived at the Waffle House on Murfreesboro Road at around 3:20 a.m. when someone started firing bullets.

After a bullet grazed him, he rushed toward the bathroom. He stated that he could not remember how many shots were fired before he took a hit.

When the shooter entered through the door, he took a moment of pause to reload his weapon. That was when Shaw found his opening and rushed at the hooter.

Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron stated in his report that Shaw jumped at the suspect, and snatched the lethal assault rifle away from him, and tossed it over the counter.

“When he came in, I distinctively remember thinking that he is going to have to work for this kill,” Shaw opened up about his experience. “I had a chance to stop him and thankfully I stopped him.”

He further explained how he got hold of the gun and made sure to keep it pointing down. The shooter had only one hand on it so Shaw was able to pull it away and throw it over the bar.