21-Year-Old Riley Howell, the brave UNCC student who sacrificed his life to stop the school shooter, will now be given full military honors at his funeral.
Officials made the announcement on Friday afternoon during a student-led rally in Uptown Charlotte.
The decision came after a WhiteHouse.gov petition was started on Wednesday, asking for Howell to be given the highest honors.
The petition reads;
“Riley was an ROTC cadet and would have served his country. Instead, he died saving the lives of his classmates.
For his heroism, we ask the Riley be given a burial with full military honors.”
As of Saturday morning, the petition had received just over 30,000 signatures.
According to the US Military, “The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of taps.”
Here is a demonstration of military funeral honors;
The Howell family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday evening at Wells Events and Reception Center in Waynesville, N.C.
On Sunday, a memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska.
The suspect in Tuesday’s horrific UNCC campus shooting is now being charged with 2 counts of first-degree murder and 4 counts of attempted murder.