Kendrick Castillo was a hero. When two people opened fire at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado on Tuesday, 18-year-old Kendrick lunged at one of the shooters and died protecting his classmates. He was just days away from graduation.
Nui Giasolli, a senior a the school, told the Today show that one student walked in late to their British literature class. “The next thing I know he is pulling a gun and is telling nobody to move,” she said. “That’s when Kendrick lunged at him, 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.”
Brendan Bialy, Jackson Gregory, and Lucas Albertoni also took down the shooter. Eight students were injured. And unfortunately, Castillo died.
For the past four years, Kendrick was a member of the school’s robotics team. He had also held multiple technology internships. He had a bright future ahead of him. Friday would have been his last day of high school.
As we learn more about what took place on Tuesday, Kendrick’s father, John Castillo, has spoken out about his son. He said, “I want people to know about him.”