Riley Howell has been widely hailed as a hero, for his actions during the recent mass shooting at UNC Charlotte.  When the University issued the notification of a mass shooter on campus, they instructed students to "Run, Hide, Fight."  Riley chose to fight, engaging the shooting suspect directly.  Speaking of Riley's actions, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said "“When you talk about heroism…the first and foremost hero, as far as I am concerned, and his name is Riley Howell."  Riley was an MS-1 Cadet, in the UNCC Corps of Cadets.

Governor Cooper, I am asking you to make an Executive declaration affording Riley burial with full military honors.  His spirit and actions demonstrate that he embraced the traits and characteristics of a soldier, and he deserves to be honored for those.