In a nation plagued by senseless violence and moral decay, one young patriot’s heroic stand may soon earn him the Catholic Church’s highest honor: sainthood.
Kendrick Castillo, the 18-year-old Colorado student who laid down his life to stop a school shooter in 2019, is now officially being considered for canonization by the Catholic Church — a rare and powerful step for any layperson, let alone a teenager.
On May 7, 2019 — just days before graduation — Castillo charged headfirst into danger when gunfire erupted inside STEM School Highlands Ranch. The classroom had been watching The Princess Bride when two heavily armed students launched a premeditated attack.
Kendrick didn’t run. He didn’t hide. Instead, he tackled one of the gunmen, Devon Erickson, buying enough time for fellow students to disarm him before he could reload. Tragically, Castillo was shot and killed in the struggle — the only fatality in the attack.
“He was the only child of John and Maria Castillo,” said George Brauchler, the former district attorney who prosecuted the case. “He was their miracle baby. He didn’t just save lives that day — he stood for something our culture has forgotten: duty to others over self.”
Brauchler, who also handled the infamous Columbine and Aurora movie theater cases, called Kendrick’s actions “unmatched” in courage.
“You don’t expect the class tech guy to be the one to take down a killer. But that’s who Kendrick was,” he added. “He was that guy.”
This week, the Diocese of Colorado Springs formally accepted a petition to open Kendrick’s cause for canonization. If approved by the Vatican, Castillo could become one of the first American-born saints recognized for heroic virtue outside of traditional martyrdom.
Father Patrick DiLoreto of St. Mark Parish in Highlands Ranch, where Kendrick worshipped, believes his sacrifice meets the Church’s new “Offering of Life” criteria under Pope Francis.
“Kendrick gave his life so that others might live,” DiLoreto said. “This wasn’t just bravery. It was an act of spiritual conviction. He lived his faith — and he died by it.”
A rosary was found in Kendrick’s pocket when he died. Friends say he carried it daily, often encouraging classmates to join him in prayer. He also volunteered at soup kitchens, helped with funeral services, and spoke often about his desire to serve others through faith and action.
One of the attackers, Devon Erickson, is serving life without parole after being convicted on 46 charges, including first-degree murder. The second assailant, Alec McKinney, testified against Erickson and may be eligible for parole in the 2040s — a decision that outraged many conservatives and parents nationwide.
Mitchell Kraus, a former student wounded in the attack, expressed relief at the conviction.
“There’s peace knowing that the monster won’t see the light of day again,” he said. “But Kendrick paid the price that day. We can never forget that.”
President Donald Trump, then in office during the aftermath of the shooting and again now in 2025, has previously praised Kendrick’s bravery. In a 2020 ceremony honoring school shooting victims, he called Castillo “a true American hero who represents the best of us — faith, sacrifice, and courage in the face of evil.”
As Christian families across America face increasing hostility, Castillo’s life and legacy have taken on new significance.
In the wake of yet another tragic school shooting last week in Minnesota, Father DiLoreto pointed to Castillo as a beacon for young Christians nationwide.
“We are raising children in a culture that mocks faith, glorifies violence, and erases morality,” DiLoreto said. “Kendrick’s story reminds us what it means to be a man of God in modern America — to stand when others fall, to fight when evil strikes.”
His parents, John and Maria Castillo, have since launched a foundation in their son’s name promoting school safety, faith-driven service, and moral courage.
“Kendrick wasn’t just our son,” John Castillo said in a press conference. “He’s America’s son now.”
A street outside the STEM school has already been renamed “Kendrick Castillo Way.” Now, many say sainthood could be the next — and most fitting — honor.
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And the progressive/socialists will react with vicious comments and accusations against this fine young man for the way he brutally attacked the gun when bringing him down. It wouldn’t be all that surprising if they didn’t canonize the gunman from their side of the aisle. You know – Like George Floyd.