7 years later: Remembering victims of 2019 mass shooting at UNC Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Thursday marks seven years since a mass shooting at UNC Charlotte left two students dead and four others injured.

The tragic shooting happened on April 30, 2019, inside a classroom in the Kennedy building on the university’s campus.

Two students who were in that classroom -- 21-year-old Riley Howell and 19-year-old Ellis Reed Parlier -- died from their injuries. Four other students, aged 19 to 23 years old, were also shot but survived.

Police said that after the shooting began, Howell jumped on 22-year-old shooter Trystan Terrell.

Terrell reportedly made a full confession to the crime immediately after the shooting, and he pleaded guilty to charges in September 2019. That plea came as part of a deal that gave him two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. The death penalty would have been the maximum sentence in his case.

In the years since the shooting, UNC Charlotte honored the victims with a “constellation garden” memorial on campus.

2026 memorial event

Each year since the deadly campus shooting, UNC Charlotte has hosted a wreath-laying ceremony on April 30 to remember Howell and Parlier, and to honor the survivors.

This year’s ceremony is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., at the constellation garden memorial outside the Kennedy building.

Members of the community were invited to the ceremony, and were encouraged to remember and reflect on April 30, 2019.

A virtual remembrance page has also been set up.

Links to past coverage

• ‘He died a hero.’ Student killed trying to stop UNCC gunman escorted home
• UNCC shooting victim Reed Parlier remembered as ‘a beautiful soul’
• Sources: UNCC shooting suspect referenced past school shooting in confession to police
• UNC Charlotte professor’s quick actions saved lives during shooting
• Sources: Suspect charged with killing two, injuring four at UNC Charlotte made full confession
• ‘Tomorrow is never promised’: UNCC alum, NFL player Larry Ogunjobi honors fallen student
• UNCC professor gives in-classroom account of school shooting: ‘Terror set in’
• ‘Never in a million years.’ Granddad of UNCC shooting suspect grapples with aftermath
• ‘He was still shooting when we were leaving’: 911 calls released from deadly UNCC campus shooting
• ‘Stay strong, Charlotte.’ UNCC shooting survivor posts video thanking community for support
• UNC Charlotte hero Riley Howell remembered with full military honors
• Street artist creates mural tribute to UNC Charlotte shooting victims
• Reviewing UNC Charlotte’s campus shooting
• UNC Charlotte shooter pleads guilty to murder, gets two consecutive life sentences
• UNC Charlotte heroes granted honorary award
• Strengths, areas of growth identified in external review of 2019 UNC Charlotte shooting response
• ‘Constellation garden’ design revealed for UNC Charlotte Remembrance Memorial