Student killed in shooting hailed as a hero

A student who died in a shooting at a United States university saved lives by tackling the gunman.

Local police say that 21-year-old Riley Howell played a key role in ending the attack at the University of North Carolina, taking the assailant off his feet and attempting to disarm him.

Ellis Parlier, 19, was also killed in the shooting, while four more students were injured.

Police officials said that gunman, a 22-year-old former student at the university, has been charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder.

No possible motive for the attack has been revealed.