Waffle House shooting suspect’s father pleads not guilty

PEKIN, Ill. (AP) — The father of the man accused of killing four people at a Waffle House in Tennessee last year has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the gun used in the shooting.

Jeffrey Reinking is accused of giving an AR-15 style rifle to his 30-year-old son, Travis Reinking, who authorities said used it in Nashville on April 22, 2018.

The elder Reinking says he was never owner of the gun and had sought the advice of the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department on whether to return the gun to his son. In a filing with the court Thursday, his lawyers contend Jeffrey Reinking talked to the sheriff’s department several times and at no time was he told the rifle and other guns should be kept away from Travis Reinking.

The weapons were taken from the younger Reinking in mid-2017 when his Illinois firearm owner’s identification card was revoked because he had moved to Colorado.