UNC Charlotte Shooting Survivor 5 Years Later
In the wake of Monday’s senseless and tragic loss of life in the line of duty for Charlotte policemen and federal marshals, Tuesday marked the anniversary of another violent gun event in the Queen City: the UNC Charlotte shooting.
I think it’s a truly sad statement about us as a society that these events happen so often that we’ve become as numb to it as being caught in traffic. I mean, I (and I’m sure most of you) had to be reminded of this.
The UNC Charlotte Shooting
It was the last day in April in 2019 when a gunman (we’ll not dignify his actions by naming him here) opened fire on the UNC Charlotte Campus killing 19-year-old Reed Palmer and 21-year-old Riley Howell. Howell’s death came about from charging the shooter in an attempt to protect other students from his heinous actions. Four other students were injured.
What About Survivors Of The UNC Charlotte Shooting
One of those survivors is Drew Pescaro. After being shot in the back, Drew spent a month of his life in 2019 recovering from his ordeal. Now? It reminds me of our son who was born 2 months premature in that, as they say, “You’d never know.” Pescaro works for the Carolina Hurricanes and is about to celebrate three years of wedded bliss with his bride. That being said, the dark memory of that day five years ago is never far from his mind. Drew tells WSOC-TV, “It’s almost like a wound that can never fully heal, because every single time it happens again, it’s like the scab gets peeled off. (but) Everything that’s happened since then has just been like a second chance.”
Dealing With The UNC Charlotte Shooting Anniversary?
In what would be a surprise to no one, Drew Pescaro usually marks each April 30 by traveling to keep his body and thoughts away from the location of his darkest day. However, this year Drew chose to stay home with family and perhaps visit the remembrance memorial on the school’s campus.
