In April 2019, 21-year-old Riley Howell died saving his classmates at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. When a mass shooter opened fire in his classroom, Riley ran right at him and tackled him. He was shot, but he stopped the attack and helped police catch the gunman. Riley and another student were killed, and four others were injured. Riley had loved Star Wars since he was a kid, and his dream was to become a Jedi. When Lucasfilm heard about his bravery and his love for the films, they decided to make that dream come true. They created a character in his honor: Jedi Master Ri-Lee Howell, a historian who protected ancient records about the Force. The character appeared in "The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary” making Riley a real part of the Star Wars universe. On opening night of "The Rise of Skywalker” his family brought his ashes to the theater and saved him a seat, so he could watch one last Star Wars movie.