"A hero": UNCC student killed in shooting tackled suspect, saved lives

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) - A UNC Charlotte student who was killed in Tuesday's shooting is being hailed a hero after police say he went after the gunman in an attempt to save others.

"Absolutely, Mr. Howell saved lives," CMPD Chief Kerr Puntey said during Wednesday's press conference.

Riley Howell, 21, who was killed in the shooting, tackled the suspect after the attack began, police said. From there, officers were able to apprehend the suspect, and take him off campus.

"He took the fight to the assailant," Putney said. He described Howell as an athletically built young man, and said Howell "took the assailant off his feet."

Howell was one of two students killed in the shooting. The other was 19-year-old Ellis Parlier. Four more students were injured by the gunman, Drew Pescaro, 19, Sean DeHart, 20, Rami Alramadhan, 20, and Emily Houpt, 23. They are all recovering from their injuries.

The gunman was later identified as , 22-year-old Trystan Terrell.

Putney says Howell was instrumental in bringing the shooting to an end, and was one of the heroes who kept others safe.

"He unfortunately had to give his life to do so, but he saved lives doing so."

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