Hero student who tackled North Carolina
gunman remembered as 'selfless'
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[May 06, 2019]
By Maria Caspani
(Reuters) - The North Carolina college
student credited with saving lives by tackling a gunman firing at his
classmates was remembered on Sunday as a person who died, the way he
lived, "putting others first."
Riley Howell, 21, was one of two people killed on Tuesday at the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte when a former student opened
fire inside a classroom of nearly 50 students. Four other students were
injured.
Howell, a member of the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps
(ROTC), was given full military honors at the memorial.
"Riley, thank you for being the big brother I never had, thank you for
being my hero before you were everyone else's," said one friend who
spoke at the televised memorial in a packed, 1,900-seat auditorium in
Waynesville, North Carolina.
The gunman, who authorities identified as Trystan Andrew Terrell, 22,
has been charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted
murder.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/May/06/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png)
Howell, an environmental studies student, was described as adventurous,
passionate about life and all living things.
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He loved "anything Star Wars" and would have lightsaber fights in
the yard with his younger brother Teddy, according to his obituary.
"My superhero doesn't wear a cape he wears Tevas," Teddy said of
Riley, referring to his sandals of choice.
Howell's girlfriend Lauren Westmoreland spoke to him directly during
the service.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Apr/03/images/ads/current/farmers_bank_sda_prom_050614.png)
"When I first saw you, it was like the sun came out," she said.
"From now on, when the sun shines warmly and gently on my face, I
will know that it's you, holding me in spirit."
Howell was buried following the memorial service.
(Reporting by Maria Caspani, additional reporting by Andrew Hay;
Editing by Daniel Wallis, Bill Berkrot and Darren Schuettler)
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