A young man’s act of selfless courage during a school shooting in Colorado is being remembered not only as heroism but as a potential example of sainthood in the Catholic Church.

On May 7, 2019, 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo lost his life when he charged a gunman who opened fire at STEM School Highlands Ranch, just days before graduation. His brave action gave his classmates the opportunity to subdue the attackers, preventing what could have become a much larger tragedy.

“You cannot overstate the heroism of Kendrick Castillo,” said prosecutor George Brauchler, who handled the case. “And on that particular day, if you said in classroom 107, who’s going to be your hero that averts a mass murder? I don’t know if he’s in the top half. I just think that people would have written him off as not that guy, but he turns out to be that guy.”

The attack began during a British literature class that had gathered to watch The Princess Bride as an end-of-year reward. Two students, Devon Erickson, then 18, and Alec McKinney, then 16, entered the room and began firing.

Castillo, alongside classmates Joshua Jones and Brendan Bialy, rushed Erickson. After firing four shots, Erickson’s weapon jammed. Castillo was fatally shot during the struggle, but his actions saved countless lives. He was the only student killed, while eight others were injured.

Brauchler, who also prosecuted the Columbine and Aurora theater shootings, noted the significance of Kendrick’s sacrifice. “They renamed the street near the school, Kendrick Castillo Way. And now he’s cleared the first hurdle toward canonization in the Catholic Church he loved so much. It’s really an incredible story.”

In the years following the tragedy, both shooters were brought to justice. Erickson was convicted on 46 counts, including first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. McKinney pleaded guilty and testified against Erickson. He could be eligible for parole after about 20 years.

After the verdict, Kendrick’s father, John Castillo, said he felt his son’s presence guiding the jury. “I’m sure he was looking down today,” he told reporters. “This day was justice for him.”

One former student, Mitchell Kraus, who was wounded in the attack, recalled walking Erickson to the nurse’s office just minutes before the shooting began. “He never gave any indication something was about to happen,” Kraus said. Now in college, Kraus admitted he feels relief knowing Erickson will never walk free. “Now that I can be sure that this monster, to be honest, is never going to see the light of day again, it’s just a weight off my back.”

Now, Kendrick’s name is being considered for something extraordinary: canonization. According to the National Catholic Register, the Diocese of Colorado Springs has formally received a petition to open Kendrick’s cause for sainthood.

Although Kendrick had deep ties to the Archdiocese of Denver, Church law designates the diocese where a person died to initiate the canonization process. Because his death occurred in Highlands Ranch, the responsibility belongs to the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

Father Patrick DiLoreto of St. Mark Parish explained that Kendrick’s sacrifice may qualify under Pope Francis’ “Offering of Life” category. This provision recognizes those who give their lives out of love for God and neighbor, even if their death does not fit the traditional definition of martyrdom.

“He [Castillo] courageously threw himself at one of the school shooters without hesitation, allowing other students to follow and subdue the gunman,” DiLoreto said. “This saved the lives of his fellow classmates when, in any other circumstance, there would surely have been more deaths on that day.”

Kendrick’s faith was no secret. He carried a rosary daily — one was found on him after his death and later gifted to a classmate. He volunteered regularly at his parish, attended strangers’ funerals to pray for them, and spoke often of his desire to be a witness for Christ.

Bishop James Golka of Colorado Springs praised those who gathered testimony about Kendrick’s life. “It seems clear that Kendrick was an exceptional young man,” he said.

For his parish community, his faith-filled life combined with his heroic death points to a deeper truth. “As the country faces more and more persecution of Christians, especially in these horrific school shootings, such as the one last week in Minnesota, we can look at the heroic examples such as Kendrick and the children who protected others for inspiration,” Father DiLoreto shared.

As school shootings continue to scar communities across America, Kendrick Castillo’s example stands out as a reminder that faith and courage can shine in the darkest moments.

Whether or not the Church ultimately declares him a saint, his legacy already bears witness to Christ’s words: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).