HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — The family of the University of North Carolina Charlotte shooting hero Riley Howell is continuing their fight against gun violence.
[ ALSO READ: Family of student killed in UNCC shooting opens up to Channel 9 ]
They joined Moms Demand Action for a rally in Hendersonville, North Carolina Saturday. It fell on the seventh anniversary of another school shooting -- Sandy Hook.
The weekend also had extra meaning for Riley’s family. They told our news partners at WLOS, Friday would have been Riley’s 22nd birthday.
UNC CHARLOTTE TRAGEDY FULL COVERAGE:
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- UNCC alum, NFL player Larry Ogunjobi finds new hero in Riley Howell
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"We got to celebrate with our family last night,” Riley’s aunt, April Cooke said. “We cooked his favorite meal and today we’re here to help all the other gun victims and families that have to live on.”
People at Saturday’s rally donated to the Riley Howell Foundation, which helps victims and survivors of gun violence.
Howell was shot after he stepped up to save others when a gunman began firing at students on UNCC’s campus in April. Four students were injured in the shooting and Howell and Reed Parlier were killed.
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