When an armed man started shooting in a University of North Carolina at Charlotte classroom, 21-year-old student Riley Howell managed to knock the gunman off, authorities say.
Howell, who saved many lives, died after he was shot by the culprit he rushed. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said he was the “first and foremost hero” in bringing the horrifying incident to an end.
“He took the fight to the assailant,” Putney said. “Unfortunately, he had to give his life to do so, but he saved lives doing so.”
Putney also said that Howell, one of the two people who died during the shooting, knocked off the man off his feet. Police ran into the classroom, disarmed the gunman and arrested him.
The culprit entered the classroom that evening and opened fire while about thirty students were listening to presentations in their class.
Howell rushed the shooter down while another student, 19-year-old Reed Parlier, died and four other students were injured.
The 21-year-old did exactly what law enforcement recommends people do during an active shooter situation. Putney said: “You’re either going to run, you’re going to hide and shield, or you’re going to take the fight to the assailant. Having no place to run or hide, he did the last.”
His aunt, Moylan, told CNN: “He did such a heroic thing. He was everybody’s protector. You felt safe when you were with Riley.”
In an interview with NBC News, the student’s mother, Natalie Henry-Howell, said they are “just beyond proud of what he was able to do.”
“While kids were running one way, our son turned and ran toward the shooter,” she expressed.”
Howell’s girlfriend of 5 years, Lauren Westmoreland, told NBC: “That’s what he would have done, no matter what.”
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