An uplifting story took place in the wake of a terrible tragedy.
Last week, 19-year-old Kendrick Castillo lost his life to save his fellow students as a shooting broke out at a STEM school in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. Castillo was, by all accounts, a bright young student and a hero in the wake of a senseless act of violence. As it turns out, he was also an avid Jeep enthusiast. CBS4 Denver‘s Jamie Leary covered the remarkable event, as fellow Jeepers throughout the state turned out to honor his memory.
Castillo’s memorial service takes place in Highlands Ranch Wednesday, and hundreds are expected to attend. According to CBS4, Colorado Jeep Girls founder Catherine Fanaro said the community jumped at the opportunity to commemorate his heroic actions. “As soon as we heard that Kendrick was a Jeeper, it kind of spread like wildfire throughout the Jeep community.” She was able to get 600 Jeep and other 4×4 owners to drive in the procession. All in all, more than 800 plan to make the service.
Those who are not able to make the service plan to attach STEM school colors, blue and yellow, to their cars as a showing of support for Kendrick Castillo.
“People in the community just really want to get together and support however we can. I didn’t expect it to get as big as it did, and it’s not just Jeepers. It’s other 4×4 enthusiasts and car clubs and stuff that have reached out and said, ‘Hey, I want to be a part of this,” said Fanaro.
