Tragedy struck at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Tuesday after a gunman opened fire inside an on-campus classroom, leaving two dead and four others injured.
According to police, the incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. on the Charlotte campus, prompting an immediate response from local police, the FBI, as well as the ATF, who responded to assist the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police department.
“Shots reported near Kennedy. Run, Hide, Fight. Secure yourself immediately,” the university said in a statement.
Upon arrival, two victims, identified as 19-year-old Ellis Parlier and 21-year-old Riley Howell, were found dead, while four, identified as, Drew Pescaro, Sean Dehart, Emily Houpt, and Rami Alramadhan, were found injured.
However, according to medical officials, three of the four injured victims were said to have life-threatening injuries.
“This is the saddest day in UNC Charlotte’s history,” the UNC Charlotte Chancellor said in a statement. “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,” he continued, as he revealed that the suspected shooter had been taken into custody.
The following morning, the shooter, identified as 22-year-old college dropout Trystan Andrew Terrell, was charged with two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, possession of a firearm on educational property and discharging a firearm on educational property.
Although Terrell’s motive remains unclear, as officials led him into the police station, he smirked at the camera and told reporters, “I went into a classroom and shot some guys.”
