Petition: "Hero" Riley Howell should receive full honors military burial

WASHINGTON (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) - A petition has been started asking President Donald Trump to allow one of the UNC Charlotte shooting victims a funeral with full military honors after police say he tackled the suspect, saving countless lives. 

Riley Howell, 21, was in the classroom where a gunman opened fire on Tuesday. Police say Howell went after the shooter, and was able to take him off of his feet. From there, police were able to apprehend him. 

LINK: "A hero": UNCC student killed in shooting tackled suspect, saved lives

"Absolutely, Mr. Howell saved lives," CMPD Chief Kerr Putney said of the Environmental Studies major. Putney called Howell "a hero," at a press conference on Wednesday, and said he "did exactly what we train people to do." 

"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," the petition says. It's already recieved more than 5,000 signatures. 

Howell was one of two students killed in the April 30 attack. The other was 19-year-old Ellis "Reed" Parlier. Four students were also injured in the attack: Drew Pescaro, Emily Houpt, Sean DeHart and Rami Alramadhan. Pescaro remains in the hospital. All other victims have been discharged. 

The petition can be found at WhiteHouse.gov. 

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FOX 46 reported on this story from Charlotte, NC.