Castillo gave his life in 2019 in an effort to protect classmates from a school shooter. A tribute will forever honor this hero.
As an active shooter entered his classroom, Kendrick Castillo didn't hesitate to protect his classmates. He, along with two friends, lunged at the shooter, allowing his classmates time and space to reach safety. Many of his friends and classmates have shared how this ultimate act of kindness and sacrifice was not surprising. Castillo lived a life of caring for others. Now, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners sets out to honor this hero.
A life well-lived
Castillo enjoyed life, friends, and robotics. He was instrumental in the logistics, programming, and even recruiting for his local robotics team. Castillo dreamed of joining NASA someday, and NASA honored Castillo's memory with his name etched on a chip as part of the Mars Rover project in 2020.
According to a classmate, “Kendrick lunged at [the suspect], and he shot Kendrick, giving all of us enough time to get underneath our desks, to get ourselves safe, and to run across the room to escape.”
Nearly 3,000 family, friends, teachers, parents, and community members attended a memorial service for Castillo at Cherry Hills Community Church. Dakotah Mann, a friend of Castillo, shared, "No matter how small his influence on each and every one of us, we have love in our hearts that he chopped, riveted and welded together. You all know his name — Kendrick Castillo. He died for us. Now, it’s time for us to live for him.”
Many Jeeps were found in the procession as Castillo had a deep love for the outdoors and offroading in Jeeps.
An intentional tribute
The Board of Douglas County Commissioners represents a community that continues to grieve the loss of Castillo. The board and community are intent on honoring the life and sacrifice of Castillo, a "historically significant American," with a permanent national monument.
On July 3, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes. These statues will pay tribute to those who have come before us and sacrificed greatly for our nation. The hope is that these monuments, placed intentionally around the country, will inspire citizens in the future.
"These works of art call forth gratitude for the accomplishments and sacrifices of our exceptional fellow citizens who, despite their flaws, placed their virtues, their talents, and their lives in the service of our Nation," states Trump within the order.
In response, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners recommended that Kendrick Castillo be included in this great task force to be honored and remembered for his ultimate sacrifice. The board has suggested a monument be within the recommendation letter (dated July 31, 2020). The board stated,
"Our community continues to grieve the loss of Kendrick’s promising life and we are determined to honor his memory and sacrifice. We believe that the ultimate sacrifice by Kendrick Castillo, that saved the lives of many of his classmates, deserves the recognition and the honor of being included in the Task Force’s discussions."
Of the dozens of school shootings in the United States in 2019, the shooting on May 7, 2019 at STEM School Highlands Ranch resulted in one death and eight injuries. These numbers would have been much higher had it not been for Castillo and his friends' intervention. Since the shooting, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners set aside $10 million out of their school budget for safety upgrades and additional funding for school resource officers.
Two Colorado students have been charged in the school shooting. In July 2020, Maya “Alec” McKinney was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. The other student charged, Devon Erickson, is scheduled for trial in September 2020.
