The day after a 22-year-old with a legally purchased handgun killed two and injured four UNCC students, an estimated 7,500 people came together to honor their memory. A student-organized vigil began inside Halston Arena, where Chancellor Phil Dubois offered at times emotional words of encouragement. “We have no course but to hold up each other, to work through this together and to reaffirm our 49er purpose,” he said.
Afterward all were invited to light a candle outside in honor of Riley Howell and Ellis Parlier, who tragically lost their lives, as well as Rami Alramadhan, Sean DeHart, Emily Houpt and Drew Pescaro, who were injured.
Howell is being hailed as a hero after reports that he tackled the shooter were confirmed Wednesday afternoon by CMPD Chief Kerr Putney.