Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik told Newsmax TV on Tuesday that the father of Waffle House suspect Travis Reinking should face charges in the four shooting deaths Sunday in Tennessee.
"That father should be charged with some kind of aiding and abetting to this murder," Kerik, who oversaw the city's forces during the 9/11 attacks, told "Newsmax Now" host John Bachman and co-host Kristin Tate. "I just think it's outrageous."
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Reinking, 29, was banned from owning or purchasing weapons after the Secret Service arrested him last year in a restricted area near the White House.
Reinking's firearms authorization was revoked at the request of the FBI, and four weapons were seized, including the AK-15 he allegedly used in the shooting at the Waffle House in Nashville early Sunday.
Four people were killed.
Nashville Metro Police said the four guns were returned to Reinking's father, Jeffrey, who acknowledged returning them to his son.
Authorities have said the elder Reinking could face charges in the attack, though none have been filed yet in the case.
"I want to give the Secret Service credit," Kerik told Bachman and Tate. "They got the weapons from the kid, then evidently, somebody in Illinois gave the weapons back to his father.
"Your son's weapons were taken away for a specific reason," he continued. "You knew that.
"They give the weapons back to you. Then you give them to the kid after you knew exactly why they were taken in the first place.
"I think it's insane," Kerik said.
"The father needs to be held responsible and accountable for what happened."
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