Celebration of Life For Slain STEM Student Kendrick Castillo

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO – A Celebration of Life ceremony for slain STEM School student Kendrick Castillo, 18, was held Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Highlands Ranch.

Nearly 2,000 people turned out to honor the Colorado teenager who was killed while charging one of the two gunmen who opened fire inside a high school and shot nine people just days before graduation. Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd. and was be open to the public. To watch memorial, click here.

A line of Jeeps and trucks stretched along a Highlands Ranch roadway ahead of the service for Castillo, who was a Jeep and off-road vehicle enthusiast. His casket was draped with yellow and blue flowers that represented the colors of the STEM School Highlands Ranch, and the stage of the church where the service was held was adorned with symbols of his passion for science, the outdoors and his faith.

His father, John Castillo, said it was no surprise to him and his wife, Maria, that their son acted as he did on May 7, when he and two classmates disarmed one of the suspects. He urged those in attendance to be more like his son and put love and compassion for others first.

"We love our community," Castillo said. "We're a family of three and a little dog, but you know, I feel the love of thousands."

Speaker after speaker praised the young man, focusing on his character and the accomplishments of his short life. References to the shooting were few, including one by Dakota Mann, who was on the school robotics team with Castillo.

The events began with the Castillo familiy's thanks for the church and the hotel that was providing the reception. The family thanked the first responders and school staff and administration.

"I was amazed at the support and love of all the people that came to the hospital," Pastor Dan Demay said. "I want to transition fro why, why kendrick, why do we have a family sitting here for their son. We need to move to the what. What can we do now that this happened, what can we do to get things right?"

Castillo was called a hero by his classmates in the ninth-period English class May 7, when one of two shooters pulled out a gun. Classmates told authorities Castillo lunged at the shooter, and was shot at point blank range. Two other students also rushed the shooter. Joshua Jones was injured with two gunshots and Brendan Bialy was not injured. Castillo died shortly afterward.
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Castillo was a graduating senior whose last day of school would have been Friday, May 9. He was the only child in his family. He had worked in various mechanical engineering internships through the school and was planning to attend Arapahoe Community College in the fall.
Last weekend, the Colorado School of Mines established the Kendrick Castillo Scholarship in his honor.

An account for donations to the Castillo family was set up through Wells Fargo Bank, the Douglas County Sheriff's office said.

Watch video of celebration of life here:

The two shooters, ages 18 and 16, were scheduled to appear in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday morning.

• Related: Donations Sought For Family Of Slain Colorado Student
• Related: 'Kendrick Castillo' Scholarship Established At School Of Mines
• Related: Colorado Shooting Victim Kendrick Castillo Died Saving Classmates

Around 2 p.m., Castillo and his classmates were in ninth-period English class May 7 at the school when one of two shooters pulled out a gun. Classmates told authorities Castillo lunged at the shooter, and was shot at point blank range. Two other students also rushed the shooter. Joshua Jones was injured with two gunshots and Brendan Bialy was not injured. Castillo died shortly after being shot.

The two shooters, ages 18 and 16, are scheduled to appear in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday morning.

Castillo was a graduating senior whose last day of school would have been Friday, May 9. He was the only child in his family. He had worked in various mechanical engineering internships through the school and was planning to attend Arapahoe Community College in the fall.

• Related: Donations Sought For Family Of Slain Colorado Student
• Related: 'Kendrick Castillo' Scholarship Established At School Of Mines
• Related: Colorado Shooting Victim Kendrick Castillo Died Saving Classmates

Additional reporting provided by Associated Press.