News

Riley Howell's family reflects on impact UNCC student had on others

A friend of Riley Howell, who was killed in a shooting on UNC Charlotte’s campus Tuesday, told Channel 9 Howell will be buried with full military honors.

[ALSO READ: Hundreds line streets as heroic UNCC students's body escorted home]

Police said 21-year-old Howell jumped on the gunman to save others before he was shot.

Howell and Ellis “Reed” Parlier, 19, were killed in the shooting. Four other students were hurt.

Police said Howell’s actions in that classroom undoubtedly saved lives.

In their first interview since the tragedy, Howell’s family talks with our partners WLOS about the pain of losing Riley and the impact they hope he had on others.

“Take action when necessary without hesitation… That’s hopefully the gift that he’s given all of us,” his mother, Natalie Howell, said.

Howell's funeral will be 5 p.m. Sunday at the Lake Junaluska Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska. You can read his obituary here.