Riley Howell

He kept charging. A bullet to the torso did not stop Riley Howell. A second bullet to the body did not prevent him from reaching his goal and hurling himself at the gunman who opened fire last week inside a classroom at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The third bullet came as Mr. Howell was inches from the gunman, who fired at point-blank range into his head.

. . . He tackled the gunman so forcefully that the suspect complained to first responders after his arrest of internal injuries, the parents said the authorities told them.

. . . . .

“The chief said no one was shot after Riley body-slammed him,” said his mother, Natalie Henry-Howell.

Riley Howell’s Parents Say He Was Shot 3 Times While Tackling the U.N.C. Charlotte Gunman

A life cut short, but a final act of astonishing courage and sacrifice.

I hope to die as well as Riley Howell. I hope to die as well as Riley Howell. I hope to die as well as Riley Howell. RIP.