Star Wars fan Riley Howell, who died saving classmates from school shooter, honoured as Jedi
- New ‘Rise of Skywalker’ book credits Jedi master ‘Ri-Lee Howell’ with collecting ‘many of the earliest accounts of exploration and codifications of The Force’
- Howell, a huge fan of the franchise, died in April when a gunman opened fire on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus
A North Carolina college student hailed by police as a hero for preventing more injuries and deaths after a gunman opened fire in a classroom has now been immortalised as a Jedi by the production company for the Star Wars franchise.
News outlets report the family of Riley Howell, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte student who is described as a huge Star Wars fan, was tipped off by Lucasfilm, in May that it planned to honour him in a forthcoming book, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – The Visual Dictionary.
The book was released by publisher DK to coincide with the release of the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
In May, the fan relations team for Lucasfilm wrote a letter to Howell’s family expressing their condolences.
“Riley’s courage and selflessness brings out the Jedi in all of us,” wrote fan relations team member Lucas Seastrom. “We hope that you may rejoice in his memory, and we join you in honouring his life and example.”