Riley Howell

            Riley Howell is my VIP for this week because he is a hero. He was going about his business as an ROTC cadet and student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte last week when he did something extra-ordinary. He stopped an active shooter who killed two students and injured four others. 

            Howell, age 21, tackled the gunman and knocked him off his feet. This gave police time to subdue him before he could cause more harm. However, Howell lost his life in the process of saving other lives. For his valor he was given a burial with full military honors on Sunday. His family wrote the following in his obituary.

Riley died the way he lived, putting others first….

Our hope is that his example resonates with everyone. We hope others will, if ever the need arises, answer the call to be selfless and do the right thing without hesitation. We hope his example of loving, living large, being kind always and finding laughter in the little things will be remembered as Riley’s gift to us all.