Memorial in Highlands Ranch planned for teenage high school shooting hero

Jeremy Hubbard
·2 min read

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (KDVR) — The teenage hero who died nearly five years ago in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting is being honored in a new way.

Family and community members kicked off a fundraising campaign Monday to build a permanent memorial to Kendrick Castillo in Civic Green Park in Highlands Ranch.

“I said early on I could feel Kendrick in the wind. Today is no different,” John Castillo, Kendrick’s father, said at the breezy start to a news conference announcing the memorial Monday morning.

“Maria and I, from the bottom of our hearts, are very grateful. We have great gratitude for everyone who is making this possible,” Castillo said.

A close-up of a picture of Kendrick Castillo and other items at the foot of a memorial site
A close-up of a picture of Kendrick Castillo and other items at the foot of a memorial site

‘He saw a difficulty … he didn’t run away’

Kendrick Castillo, 18, died on May 7, 2019. He was shot while rushing at a shooter at his high school, protecting other students from the gunfire.

“He stood and gave his own life to defend the lives of his classmates,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said.

Law enforcement officers, county leaders, community officials and Castillo’s parents stood together in the park as a temporary plaque was unveiled. The memorial will be in Civic Green Park in the Town Center area of Highlands Ranch.

Additionally, organizers plan to rename Lucent Boulevard through Highlands Ranch as “Kendrick Castillo Way.”

“And our goal in turning tragedy into triumph is to encourage not just kids and students in this community, but young and old people of all backgrounds, to do what Kendrick did. And what did he do? When he saw a difficulty, a challenge, he didn’t run away,” said Abe Laydon, Douglas County commissioner.

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Designs for the memorial are still being finalized, although it may resemble the teen’s gravesite at nearby Seven Stones Chatfield cemetery.

“Coming up on five years since we lost Kendrick. And of course, Maria and I, there’s not a minute or a second that we don’t think about him, but for the community, I think this is huge,” John Castillo said.

The estimated cost of the memorial is around $30,000, and organizers have set up a fundraising page to help cover the expenses.

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