Riley Howell died a hero when he made the brave decision to tackle the gunman who attacked the University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus on Tuesday night. The mass shooting left two dead and four critically injured.
“I just went into a classroom and shot the guys,” 22-year-old Trystan Terrell remarked with a smirk after being captured by authorities.
Riley’s mother, Natalie Henry-Howell, opened up about the horrific event on NBC’s “Today” show on Thursday.
“While kids were running one way, our son turned and ran towards the shooter,” said Natalie. “If he was in the room when something like that was happening, and he had turned away, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself.”
Though heartbroken over the loss of her son, she shared that she’s “beyond proud” of his courageous act that saved the lives of many.
Police Chief Kerr Putney confirmed that Riley’s decision to jump on the gunman gave the first officer on the scene just enough time to capture Terrell.
“His sacrifice saved lives,” said Putney.