While speaking at one of the Tennessee Waffle House shooting victim's funeral, the restaurant's CEO revealed that 21-year-old DeEbony Groves was singing gospel songs prior to her death.
A friend of Groves and one of the survivors of the shooting told Walt Ehmer they were singing before 29-year-old gunman Travis Reinking opened fire taking the Belmont University student's life.
"We went and visited with the survivors, and they talked about the people who were in that restaurant before what happened happened, and specifically remembered your daughter," Walt Ehmer told mourners Saturday.
"And [they] spoke of your daughter and her friend and said they were singing gospel songs. And everybody was singing and enjoying each other and she said, 'The last thing I remember her saying was, singing 'Jesus Loves Me.'"
He added that he was hopeful Groves' family and friends would get through this tragedy "because I know by watching this is a very strong, faith-filled community."
The shooting at the popular restaurant chain, which left four people dead, still remains fresh on the nation's conscience. Reinking entered the Antioch Waffle House on April 22, with an AR-15 assault rifle and opened fire on patrons. He was disarmed and chased away from the restaurant by hero James Shaw Jr.
Days after his heroics, Shaw has become a national inspiration to others despite his unwillingness to call himself a hero.
“I’m not a hero,” Shaw said at a news conference on April 22. “I’m just a regular person. I think anybody could have did what I did if they’re pushed. You have to either react or fall. I chose to react because I didn’t see any other way to live.”
Shaw created a GoFundMe campaign asking for $15,000 for the shooting victims. By the end of the week, more than 5,518 people had donated nearly $200,000 for DeEbony and other victims.