A Nashville 5th grader paid homage to Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr. for “Superhero Day” at school.

Earlier this year, Shaw Jr. became a national hero after disarming a Waffle House shooter. The 29-year-old wrestled the partially nude gunman to the ground where he was able to take and throw the assault rife he was attempting to reload. Travis Reinking opened fire in the restaurant around 3 a.m killing four people and injuring four others who were hospitalized.

The Tennessee State University alumnus did not consider himself to be a hero after the incident, calling himself “just a regular person."

But to Union Elementary School student Tayir Thomas and the majority of the nation, Shaw Jr. is far more extraordinary than he gives himself credit for. Britt Thomas, the fifth grader’s mother, caught his attention when he showed him a video of Shaw. The young boy immediately wanted to dress like him.

"He said he wanted to be a real hero not a fictional one," Thomas stated.

In honor of Red Ribbon Week the Union Elementary School celebrated superhero Day. Tayir wore a grey sweatshirt that read “live” and a bandage around his hand to mimic Shaw during the shooting.

"He said he wanted to be a real hero not a fictional one", stated Thomas.

In honor of Red Ribbon Week, the school celebrated Superhero Day. Tayir wore a grey sweatshirt that read “live” and a bandage around his hand to mimic Shaw during the shooting.

Tayir and his classmates were pleasantly surprised when Shaw showed up at the Gallatin school later in the week. In an interview with Fox 27 Nashville, the boy shared that he thought he was “dreaming."

“I thought I was dreaming, but it wasn’t a dream,” said Tayir.

Shaw also shared with the new channel that he feels he did something “right” and “thankful” that Thomas chose to dress up as him.

“It blows my mind for sure. It makes me feel like what I did was right”, Shaw shared. “I’m very inspired by him, very moved by him and thankful that he wanted to dress up like me”.

Shaw Jr. spoke with the classroom of young students, encouraging them to vote when they get older.

But the fifth grader wasn't the only one to praise Shaw Jr. Shortly after the April shooting, he received major accolades for his courageous decision from Dwayne Wade on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Chadwick Boseman gave his MTV “Best Hero” award to Shaw.

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Tayir Thomas

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