The father of Waffle House shooting suspect Travis Reinking said authorities never told him to keep guns away from his son before the mass shooting, directly contradicting statements from law enforcement.

Jeffrey Reinking made the assertion in a recent filing in a federal lawsuit against him. Law enforcement was quick to push back, standing by earlier accounts that they asked Jeffrey Reinking to keep the guns from Travis Reinking.

Authorities in Travis Reinking's hometown took his guns in 2017 after the U.S. Secret Service arrested him outside the White House. His Illinois firearm identification card was revoked, but his father returned the guns at his son's request before the Nashville shooting.

Family of shooting victim Akilah DaSilva sued Jeffrey Reinking in 2018, saying he was partially responsible because he violated law enforcement's instructions and allowed his son to have the weapons.

Police said Travis Reinking used one of those guns, an assault-style rifle, to pelt an Antioch Waffle House with bullets on April 22, killing four people. Travis Reinking, 29, remains in jail without bond on criminal homicide charges.

In addition to civil lawsuits, Jeffrey Reinking is under criminal investigation — authorities are trying to determine if he broke state or federal laws by turning the guns over to his son.

More from the suit:Waffle Housing suspect Travis Reinking's father was 'getting concerned' before shooting

Special report:On April 22, 2018, just after 3:20 a.m., gunshots.

Jeffrey Reinking says Tazewell County report was incorrect

An August 2017 report from the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office in Illinois said that a deputy seized four guns and handed them over to Jeffrey Reinking and told him "to keep the weapons secure and away from Travis."

But a Dec. 22 filing in the federal court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Jeffrey Reinking said the Tazewell County report "contains inaccuracies with respect to alleged specific instructions."

"I was never given any express instruction from the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office that I was to keep Travis Reinking's firearms that he legally owned away from him," Jeffrey Reinking said in the filing.

Further, the filing states, an unnamed employee of the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office told Jeffrey Reinking he could return the guns to his son as long as Travis Reinking was leaving Illinois.

Local authorities say no evidence supports Jeffrey Reinking's assertions

Authorities in Tazewell County rejected Jeffrey Reinking's assertions in statements Wednesday.

"The Tazewell County Sheriff Office stands by the accuracy of the Aug. 24 report," Chief Deputy Tim Gillespie said.

Tazewell County prosecutor Stewart Umholtz, who is overseeing the continuing criminal investigation into Jeffrey Reinking's conduct, said there is no evidence to support Jeffrey Reinking's "version of the facts."

"Although Jeffrey Reinking has the right to express his version of the facts, we are unaware of evidence to support his version," Umholtz said in an email. "Ultimately, a judge or jury will be the finder of fact."

Nashville attorney Daniel Horwitz, who is representing Abede DaSilva, the plaintiff in the federal suit, said the latest assertions were consistent with other efforts "to minimize Jeffrey Reinking's role in this matter."

"The DaSilva family remains hopeful that law enforcement will thoroughly review Mr. Reinking's sworn statements in this matter and take appropriate action," Horwitz said in a statement.

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Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and atamburin@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets.