The two students who were killed in the active shooting at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte campus were identified as Ellis “Reed” Parlier, who wanted to be a game developer, and Riley Howell, who was praised as a hero for rushing forward to stop the gunman.
In addition, at least four people were injured – three critically – in the active shooting at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte campus. The first victim named was Drew Pescaro, a brother with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He is one of the victims who survived the mass shooting. He has now been released from the hospital.
UNCC Chancellor Philip Dubois said during an appearance on WBT Radio that the victims killed in the shooting have been identified as Parlier, 19, of Midland, North Carolina, and Howell, 21, of Waynesville, North Carolina. Pescaro, 19, of Apex, North Carolina; Sean Dehart, 20, of Apex, North Carolina; Rami Alramadhan, 20, of Saudi Arabia; and Emily Houpt, 23, of Charlotte, have been identified by Dubois as the injured victims.
“⚠️Scene secure. One in custody. No reason to believe anyone else involved,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police tweeted after Trystan Andrew Terrell was arrested in the mass shooting. Terrell is a former history student at the university.
“CMPD and UNCC going room by room on campus to identify any students, faculty or others who may be sheltering in place,” the police said. Students took to social media to express their feelings.
Here’s what you need to know about each victim:
Riley Howell
Riley Howell, left, with his girlfriend.
Riley Howell is being hailed as a hero. Sources told WSOC-TV that Howell jumped on the gunman in the classroom to save others.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney praised Howell in a news conference.
“When you talk about heroism…the first and foremost hero, as far as I am concerned, and his name is Riley Howell. He was probably the second fatality in this incident. His family, as you might imagine, is traumatized, devastated. But when I spoke to the father, one father to another, I told him personally I wish I had words…What I did tell him is we are committed to the work. We are going to get to the bottom of it. We are going to find out the why.”
Putney said that Howell took “the fight to the assailant.” He said he had “no place to run and hide.” If it wasn’t for Howell, “the assailant might not have been disarmed,” said Putney. “Unfortunately, he gave his life in the process, but his sacrifice saved lives.”
A friend of Howell’s longtime girlfriend had asked for help Tuesday night in a tweet that spread across social media, but sadly, officials confirmed Wednesday morning that Howell was one of two students killed in the shooting.
According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, Riley Howell graduated from T.C. Roberson High School. He is from Waynesville, North Carolina.
Howell’s mother is a teacher near his hometown and the T.C. Roberson community has been mourning the loss on Facebook. “Just got word that Riley Howell and graduate of TC. Was killed in the UNC shooting yesterday. His mother is still teaching at Valley Springs. Let’s keep this family in our prayers,” a fellow graduate of the high school wrote on Facebook.
Howell was on the track and soccer teams at T.C. Roberson, according to the school’s website. He graduated from the high school in 2016.
Ellis Parlier
Ellis Parlier, 19, of Midland, North Carolina, was also killed in the shooting. Parlier was a 2017 graduate of Central Academy of Technology and Arts in the Union County Public Schools district, a spokesperson told the Greenville News.
“It’s very shocking as you can imagine. Our community is still in shock in dealing with this loss,” Tahira Stalberte, the district spokesperson, told the newspaper. “The news is still very fresh in our community.”
Ellis “Reed” Parlier, of Midland, NC, “was a 19-year-old who intended to pursue a Computer Science major after enrolling at UNC Charlotte in Fall of 2017,” UNCC’s chancellor wrote in a statement.
“Reed loved video games and aspired to one day become a game developer. Reed was a graduate of the highly regarded Central Academy of Technology and Arts, where he studied in the Information Systems academy. He was generous with his time and talents, volunteering as a computer programming tutor for middle school students. Reed’s professors describe him as independent and motivated. We will not forget Reed.”
He added: “Our faculty have approved Degrees in Memoriam for both Riley and Reed, and I have reached out to each of their families. We will do everything we can to lift them up over the difficult days, weeks, and months ahead.”
Ellis Reed Parlier was a 2017 graduate of Central Academy of Technology and Arts in the Union County Public Schools district, a spokesperson confirmed to the Greenville News.
“It’s very shocking as you can imagine. Our community is still in shock in dealing with this loss,” Tahira Stalberte, the district spokesperson, told the newspaper. “The news is still very fresh in our community.” The high school’s spokesperson told Daily Beast that Parlier was “a joy to have in the classroom.”
Parlier was an honors student at the school and was focused on information technology.
“I can’t offer any simple solutions, God is sovereign and gracious,” said Rev. Luke Maybry, pastor at a vigil for Ellis Reed Parlier.
Sadly, a woman posted on Facebook before Parlier’s death was announced, writing, “UNCC Family, does anyone know a Reed Parlier? His parents can’t get in contact with him.” Another woman responded on the thread, “was sitting with his aunt in the emergency room last night. She was trying to find him. Is there anyway to get her name? We were trying everything to help her find him. I knew I should have gotten her name before she left. We were there for another student. It’s breaking my heart that we could not do more.”
Parlier’s aunt shared a photo of him and wrote on Facebook, “This is our nephew, Reed. His and Riley’s lives were taken far too soon in a senseless act.” She also wrote of both young men: “Fly with the angels ??????.”
She added: “I cannot imagine the pain his immediate family is going through but I know it took the breath right out of my body.”
One woman wrote on Facebook that her son knew Parlier. His “friend, Ellis Parlier, was shot and killed yesterday during the shooting at UNC Charlotte. They both graduated High School last year. THAT COULD’VE BEEN MY SON!! We are devastated for his family. Please help us pray for them,” she wrote. “What is happening to our country? We can’t go to the movies, the mall, concerts, jobs…not even SCHOOL or CHURCH without fear of being shot. I’M SO TIRED OF THIS SH*T!!!! #UNCCStrong.”
Rami Alramadhan
Waleed Aldhafeeri, president of the Saudi Students Organization at UNCC, tells @wsoctv that Rami Alramadan was shot in the stomach and right hand yesterday. Aldhafeeri just left the hospital where Alramadan is in good condition. He should be released later today or tomorrow.
Rami Alramadhan, a 20-year-old student from Saudi Arabia, was wounded in the shooting, but suffered non-life-threatening injuries. His family is traveling from Saudi Arabia to Charlotte to be with Rami. His father said on Twitter that he was shot with one bullet that hit his stomach and hand.
Waleed Aldhafeeri, of the Saudi Students Organization at UNCC, told WSOC-TV that Alramadhan was in good condition and would be released from the hospital Wednesday or Thursday.
Drew Pescaro
Drew Pescaro
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity “says a brother was injured in the shooting,” reported Joe Bruno of WSOC9. He shared a statement from the fraternity.
It read, “Friends and Family, We are saddened to say that we can confirm that Brother Drew Pescaro of the Lambda Delta Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega has been injured in relation to the active shooter situation that unfolded earlier today at UNC Charlotte’s main campus. He is currently under medical supervision at CMC and we will advise further updates as they come.”
A further update on the condition of Drew Pescaro was not yet released. A cousin told Boston 25 News, “What we know is that he spoke to his mother on the way to the hospital. His parents live about two hours from the campus. The fact that he was able to talk to his mother was pretty reassuring.”
Our sports writer Drew Pescaro was one of those shot tonight. He is out of surgery and stable. The full support of the Niner Times staff is behind him in his recovery. #DrewStrong
“We support the students and personnel at UNC-Charlotte affected by today’s tragic shooting. ATO brother Drew Pescaro was shot and is currently hospitalized in stable condition. We are keeping Drew, the chapter and the campus in our prayers,” the fraternity wrote on Facebook.
Drew’s family asked people to use the hashtag #DrewStrong.
Pescaro’s Facebook page says he’s a communication student at UNC. His page also says, “Video Assistant at UNC-Charlotte 49ers football. Studies Organizational communication at UNC Charlotte. Went to Middle Creek. Lives in Apex, North Carolina. From Rutland, Massachusetts.”
“Manages Fans with Attitude,” his page reads.
A woman who knows him wrote on Facebook, “Prayers Please!!!!!!…Drew, was shot in the UNC Charlotte shooting this afternoon. He seems to be stable at this time but will be having surgery at the trauma center shortly!!! Please pray for all of us!”
Emily Houpt
Emily Houpt.
Emily Houpt, a 23-year-old student from Charlotte, was wounded in the shooting, but is expected to survive. Her mother wrote on Facebook, “Thank you for all the prayers and texts! Emily is doing well under the circumstances and will make a full physical recovery in a couple of weeks. I am so very angry right now and I’m sure as I process the events of this day and it all begins to sink in, I will have more to say about this senseless tragedy!”
Sean Dehart
Sean Dehart, 20, of Apex, North Carolina, was also wounded in the shooting. Dehart is originally from Shelton, Connecticut, and went to Cardinal Gibbons High School, according to his Facebook page.
The Chancellor Called the Mass Shooting ‘the Unthinkable’
BREAKING: Two dead, four injured after shooting on UNC Charlotte campus, officials say. t.co/2ITX9hZmeK
Police revealed that the first 911 calls came in at 4:40 p.m. “reporting a suspect was armed with a pistol and had shot several students,” ABC News reported.
Tristan Field wrote on Twitter, “The shooter at UNCC didn’t say anything. He just started shooting during our final presentations and we all ran out. I’m praying for everyone that got hit and UNC Charlotte as a whole. #CharlotteStrong.”
He added, “Why would anyone do this. We were just doing presentations and someone started shooting up the room. We didn’t do anything but our work. Stay safe UNCC.”
The police wrote that detectives were conducting a homicide investigation at the campus. The call came in at 5:42 p.m. and police responded “to an assault with a deadly weapon call for service involving an active shooter on South Library Lane in the Kennedy Building.”
Officers “located multiple victims with gunshot wounds.” Three victims were taken to Atrium Health Carolina’s Medical Center. One victim was transported by a UNCC police sergeant to Atrium Health University City and then by a medic to Atrium. Two additional victims were pronounced deceased on the scene by a media, the statement read.
The chancellor released a statement that declared “this is the saddest day in UNC Charlotte’s history. Earlier this evening, the unthinkable happened on our campus.”
The suspect in the UNC Charlotte incident has been identified as Trystan Andrew Terrell, (DOB: 06/06/1996.)
He is in custody at this time with charges pending against him.
The chancellor wrote that “an individual opened fire in a UNC Charlotte classroom, cutting short the lives of two members of our community and seriously injuring four others.”
Families of the deceased were being notified and university staff were with those who are injured.
“The entire UNC Charlotte community shares the shock and grief of this senseless, devastating act. This was an attack on all of Niner Nation.”
He added, “The days ahead will be some of the most challenging we have ever encountered. All I can say for certain is that we will get through them together. “