Donations Sought For Family Of Slain Colorado Student

DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – Multiple crowd-funding campaigns have popped up after the school shooting at Highlands Ranch, but the Douglas County Sheriff's office said there is only one authorized by the family of slain STEM School student Kendrick Castillo.

Those wishing to make a donation should do so through any branch of Wells Fargo Bank, specifying that donations go to the "Kendrick Castillo Memorial Fund," a message from the sheriff's office said.

Castillo's actions on Tuesday in a 12th grade English class at STEM School are credited with saving his classmates after he was first to tackle the shooter in his classroom. Castillo was shot at close range and died afterwards.

More details about the incident were released after a fellow student, Brenden Bialy, 18, spoke publicly about how Kendrick and another student who was also injured "jumped into action without any hesitation." Bialy said he was lucky to be unscathed in the incident.

"Kendrick Castillo died a legend. He died a trooper. He got his ticket to Valhalla, and I know he will be with me for the rest of my life," Bialy said.

Related: Colorado Shooting Victim Kendrick Castillo Died Saving Classmates
Related: Colorado School Shooting: 5 Heroes Who Saved Lives

"[Kendrick] cared enough about people that he would do something like that, even though it's against my better judgment," the teen's father told the Denver Post. "I wish he had gone and hid, but that's not his character. His character is about protecting people, helping people."

Kendrick was an only child, his father told the Post. He was robotics team member and was remembered as loyal by his classmates and as a hard worker by the businesses where he had successful internships.

He was scheduled to graduate with his senior class and had plans to attend Arapahoe Community College in the fall, his father said.

Gov. Jared Polis called Kendrick a "Colorado hero" who lost his life saving others. "Colorado will always remember the heroism of Kendrick Castillo," the governor tweeted on his private account.