UNC Charlotte marks solemn anniversary of shooting. ‘It was kind of like our 9/11.’
It wasn’t quite what UNC Charlotte had originally envisioned, but the special event designed to mark the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting on its campus went on as planned Thursday.
An early-morning wreath-laying ceremony began a somber day Thursday on the UNC Charlotte campus as the school honored the two students who were killed and the four who were wounded April 30, 2019. It continued in the afternoon in pre-recorded fashion, with mourners attending via computers, tablets and cellphones.
Early in the day, campus police officers placed two wreaths in front of the Kennedy Building, where the shootings occurred. Chancellor Philip Dubois spoke briefly to about two dozen officers. It was campus police Sgt. Richard Gundacker who entered room 236 of the building after responding to a 911 call.
“It was kind of like our 9/11,” Dubois told the Observer later. “I can’t believe it was a year ago because it has been such an important and impactful part of our university. Every single day we’ve thought about this tragedy.”
Last April 30, at the end of an otherwise normal day on the campus in northeast Charlotte, a gunman walked into a classroom and started shooting. When police arrived, they found Ellis “Reed” Parlier, 19, of Midland, and Riley Howell, 21, of Waynesville dead. Four students were wounded.
Last September, Trystan Andrew Terrell pleaded guilty to the murders. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
On Thursday, Gov. Roy Cooper extended his own remembrance in a video posted on Twitter.
“Last year on this day, I stood with the UNC Charlotte student body at Halton Arena, and I’m proud to stand with you again virtually today,” he said. “While we are physically apart, our bonds are tighter than ever. And we know that Niner Nation is a compassionate and resilient community.”
UNC Charlotte virtual ceremony
The live-streamed program in the afternoon centered heavily on those killed, drawing on recorded messages from administrators, alumni and the student body president as well as archival photos and videos from vigils, social-media posts and family photos of the victims.
“My plans were to be with you this evening, but as you know, our world is in an uncertain place and time,” said Don Dahler, a CBS News correspondent and 1991 graduate of UNCC, from his home in New Jersey. “However, perseverance is a hallmark of Niner Nation. While we need to continue supporting our families and communities during this unprecedented time, it is essential that we as Niners honor today and remember in particular the lives of Reed Parlier and Riley Howell.”
Parlier and Howell were killed when a gunman opened fire during their liberal studies class, “Science, Technology & Society.” Students Rami Alramadhan, Sean DeHart, Emily Houpt and Drew Pescaro were injured in the attack.
There were repeated reminders of the UNC Charlotte community’s resolve during the virtual tribute.
“As I’ve said before, we will not be defined by the tragedy of April 30th, but by the strength of our collective response,” Dubois said in an opening statement.
Dubois was followed by a monologue from Chandler Crean, president of UNCC’s Student Government Association, who echoed those remarks:
“It was inspiring and breathtaking to see so many thousands of students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members gathered in Halton Arena and the Star Quad (the day after), sending the powerful message that we would not be defined by this event — but rather by our collective strength. What matters as ever is what’s in our hearts, how we honor the victims, survivors and all those impacted by the tragedy, and where we go from here — stronger together as One Niner Nation.”
Looking back, but moving forward
In January, the university announced it would host an event on the anniversary called “United: A Remembrance Concert,” to be held at Belk Theater in uptown Charlotte — something to cap a number of commemorative efforts planned as a day of remembrance both on and off campus. Dahler was to host, and among the musical selections would be an original composition by John Allemeier, professor of composition.
Those plans were eventually scrapped due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, although Dahler still participated, Allemeier’s music still was featured (as the backdrop to a video montage by College of Arts + Architecture associate professor Jeffrey Murphy), and the name was changed just slightly to “United: A Remembrance Program.”
However, there are other longstanding plans that university administrators said they are moving ahead with.
“Plans are currently underway for several initiatives,” said Kevin Bailey, vice chancellor for student affairs, “including a focal memorial and commemorative space in Belk Plaza between the front of Kennedy and the recently completed ellipse and fountain. We will share these plans with the community as we continue to make our university home for all of Niner Nation past present and future.”
Added Dubois: “Going forward, the campus memorial that will be constructed in honor of the victims will be an enduring reminder to everyone who sets forth on this campus that their lives mattered — to their families, to their friends, to Charlotte and to us.”
Two of the more moving aspects of Thursday’s event were performances of songs, chosen by Parlier and Howell’s families as favorites of their sons, performed by the group Water From Fire (featuring UNC Charlotte alumni John Woodall and Kevin Brawley). Photos of Parlier were set to Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky,” while photos and video of Howell were set to “American Dream” by Switchfoot.
But the most poignant moment came at the close of the 30-minute program, when student body vice president Adela Mann rang the UNCC bell seven times: “Two times to recognize Riley and Reed, four times to recognize Drew, Emily, Rami and Sean, and one time to recognize all the students present in the classroom that day.”
The last toll of the bell struck at 5:40 p.m. — one year to the minute from when the shooting started, and changed UNC Charlotte forever.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 10:45 AM.