When the shooting started , he ran to the bathroom — a bullet grazed his elbow and he realized there was no exit — so when he saw the gunman point the rifle down , perhaps to reload or fix a jam , he lunged and wrestled the weapon away from him . The gunman was captured by police a few days later . While four people died in the attack , it is likely that Shaw 's action saved the lives of more restaurant patrons . Afterwards , Shaw established a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the families of the four victims . Total donations raised by Shaw surpassed in early May 2018 . While he has been described as a hero by numerous people , including Tennessee authorities , he has said that he does not think of himself in those terms : Shaw was honored by the president of Tennessee State University who praised Shaw for his " bravery and courage " and for saving many lives . He was honored by Tennessee lawmakers who passed a joint resolution honoring Shaw 's actions . He appeared on national cable TV news shows and was honored at a game featuring the Nashville Predators . Shaw appeared on '' The Ellen DeGeneres Show '' where he met NBA basketball star Dwyane Wade . '' The Steve Harvey Show '' sent him on a trip to the island of Barbados . In May 2018 , Shaw met with Emma González , a survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and anti-gun activist who helped to found Never Again MSD . Tennessee State University is setting up a scholarship fund in his name . At the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards , after Chadwick Boseman won an award for " Best Superhero " for his work in '' Black Panther , '' he called Shaw up to the stage and gave him the award . Shaw was presented a Gold Vail Award by Randall L. Stephenson , the Chief Executive Officer of AT&T . In 2018 , he was received a BET Humanitarian Award
shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
James Shaw Jr.