Statement from Chancellor Dubois on 5/6/19

To the students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, and friends of Niner Nation:

The events of last week are woven into the fabric that binds Niner Nation together, from the fear and shock we shared as the tragedy unfolded to the acts of heroism and sacrifice that saved many lives.  

To honor Riley Howell and Reed Parlier and in support of the four other students who suffered injuries -- Rami Alramadhan, Sean Dehart,  Emily Houpt, and Drew Pescaro -- we have established a permanent website, Niner Nation Remembers. The site includes an index of information from the week, as well as a photo gallery and a video archive of Wednesday’s vigil inside Halton Arena and the candlelight vigil which followed outside.  The website will also permit you to share your personal thoughts and reflections about the tragedy we suffered on Tuesday, April 30.

In time, we will memorialize Reed and Riley in other ways after we have talked with their families and considered a number of options. To ensure what we do is reflective of their lives and dreams for the future, I have formed a Niner Nation Remembrance Commission to provide guidance and insight on next steps. I will share more about the commission and its charge in the days ahead.

In addition to reflecting on the events of the past several days, we are looking down the road to the coming weeks and months. As I said in my previous message to the campus community, my continuing priority will be the safety and security of our campus. It is my responsibility to keep you informed of all the work that we do, including the results of the independent external after-action review of the incident that we will commission.   

I am so grateful for the love and support you have shown to me and for each other. I am so proud to be your chancellor. The events of last week are a part of all of us, but Niner Nation must be defined by how we have pulled together in response. Niner Nation is #CharlotteStrong.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois

Statement from Chancellor Dubois on 5/1/19

To the Students, Employees, Alumni, Families, and Supporters of UNC Charlotte:

Words cannot adequately express the heartbreak we feel over yesterday’s tragic events, nor can they describe the selfless, overwhelming support you have provided. Even in the midst of UNC Charlotte’s darkest day, our greatest strength--our ability to unify with one heart and a common purpose--shines clearly through.

In that spirit of unity, I would ask that you join me in turning our hearts and minds to the families of the two members of our community who lost their lives. Some of us knew these young men as our students, our classmates, our friends, our family, our sons. For all of us, they were fellow members of Niner Nation, and we will learn and forever remember their names and their legacy.

Riley Howell, of Waynesville, NC, was a 21-year-old Environmental Studies major who enrolled in UNC Charlotte in Fall 2018 as a transfer from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Riley loved the outdoors, and Star Wars, and pizza; he played soccer and ran cross country in high school and was described by those close to him as upbeat and optimistic, and always with a smile on his face. Riley’s family describes him as always putting others ahead of himself, and nothing exemplifies that more than his final, heroic actions in defense of his fellow students. We will not forget Riley.

Ellis “Reed” Parlier, of Midland, NC, was a 19-year-old who intended to pursue a Computer Science major after enrolling at UNC Charlotte in Fall of 2017. Reed loved video games and aspired to one day become a game developer. Reed was a graduate of the highly regarded Central Academy of Technology and Arts, where he studied in the Information Systems academy. He was generous with his time and talents, volunteering as a computer programming tutor for middle school students. Reed’s professors describe him as independent and motivated. We will not forget Reed.

Our faculty have approved Degrees in Memoriam for both Riley and Reed, and I have reached out to each of their families. We will do everything we can to lift them up over the difficult days, weeks, and months ahead. Riley and Reed’s fellow students have organized a candlelight vigil to be held this evening at 6:00 p.m. in Halton Arena. For those who are unable to come to campus, we will livestream the vigil on our website.

We will use our time together at the vigil to honor the memory of Riley and Reed and to show support for their classmates who were injured in the attack. I have visited with the injured students and their families today, and many dedicated members of my staff have also spent time with them since they were admitted to the hospital. While these students have a difficult road ahead, all are expected to recover. Please keep these Niners in your hearts and minds, too, as they heal.

The days ahead will be difficult, but we will emerge from them. We will not emerge unchanged, but we will emerge united and stronger. I am grateful for you all.

Philip L. Dubois

Chancellor, UNC Charlotte

Statement from Chancellor Dubois on 4/30/19

"This is the saddest day in UNC Charlotte’s history. Earlier this evening, the unthinkable happened on our campus. At approximately 5:40 PM, an individual opened fire in a UNC Charlotte classroom, cutting short the lives of two members of our community and seriously injuring four others.

Families of the deceased victims are being notified, and university staff are with those who are injured. The entire UNC Charlotte community shares the shock and grief of this senseless, devastating act. This was an attack on all of Niner Nation.

I am proud of and grateful for the efforts of UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and other emergency officials. The suspected shooter is in custody and lives were saved thanks to their rapid response. Their work on campus will continue over the next several hours. Students and staff on campus should follow the instructions of law enforcement officials and the instructions issued in NinerAlerts.Everyone else should remain off campus until an all-clear message is issued.

The days ahead will be some of the most challenging we have ever encountered. All I can say for certain is that we will get through them together. There is still much that we don’t know, and we will share information with you as soon as it is available. Among those unknowns is how we will navigate the remainder of the semester, including the final examination schedule and graduation. Examinations will be canceled through Sunday while we formulate a plan for the following week.

Counseling and Psychological Services is currently providing counseling services to students who were on campus during the event. We intend to make counseling and spiritual support services available to the entire campus community beginning tomorrow morning. Faculty and staff who need support overnight should contact the Employee Assistance Program at 1-877-603-8259. Additional details regarding those services and other resources will follow in the coming hours."

For the official statement and other updates, please visit: https://emergency.uncc.edu/current-campus-disruptions/message-chancellor