The Hispanic hero who jumped on the striker in Colorado died trying to stop him but saved several lives

He could try to get out or get safe, but Kendrick Ray Castillo made the decision to confront Devon Erickson, who entered his clbad., STEM High School Ranch, Denver, with a gun and started firing.

Everything happened in one second, He was surrounded by his companions with whom he had shared the laughter, tasks: his life. He did not think about it and threw himself on Devon who had the weapon in his hand., felt that his stoutness could help stop the attacker … the bullets were faster and Kendrick fell to the ground with deadly woundsbut he managed to gain time, precious moments to run for his comrades and thus avoided more fatalities.

Kendrick Ray Castillo was 18 years old and had only three days to graduate from high school. STEM from Highlands Ranch, Denver. He wanted to be an engineer like his father, he loved science and cars, he was a robotics enthusiast and ran the competition team at his school. In the fall, he was going to college to begin his studies in electrical or mechanical engineering. But Kendrick died without realizing his dreams.

The young man's father, John Castillo, pointed out that even though He had a hard time accepting that his only son decided to face the attacker instead of hiding, he knows that he did what he had to do and died in. " hero". "I would have liked it to be gone and hidden, but it's not his character." His character is to protect people, to help people, "he said in an interview with local media.

His father is not the only one to have described as heroic what Kendrick did. This Wednesday, when the first stories about what happened have begun to appear, his companions explained that this young man was the one who had thrown himself over the other who was shooting to try to stop him. According to him, say the authorities, eight other wounded (and not killed) were wounded during the shootings and one deadly victim, who gave his life for others.

Student Nui Giasolli told NBC's "Today" program how everything had happened:

"(The attacker) walked to the other side of the room where we also had another door and opened the door, turned around as if to return to his seat, then walked to the door and closed it, then pulled out a gun and said "Nobody moves," said Giasolli, adding that his partner, Kendrick Castillo, had then jumped on the one he had shot.

Then another group of children attacked the abuser, allowing others to flee the clbad.

Social networks also did their part and several students and parents thanked the young man for saving lives. "He and his partner saved my daughter's life today." The two incredible heroes, their courage put an end to a senseless tragedy. My daughter is at home for her sacrifice. The real heroes, "writes Suz Perc on Twitter.

His sacrifice was also grateful to the Colorado authorities, including the governor himself, Jared Polis, who presented his condolences this Wednesday through the same social network.

"The Colorado hero, Kendrick Castillo, lost his life saving lives (…) He threw himself on the attacker and helped prevent an even greater tragedy, Colorado will remember always from the heroism of Kendrick Castillo, "Polis told Twitter.

Kendrick grew up speaking English and Spanish in the suburbs of Denver and he attended Catholic school for the first time. He also spent his time fishing and camping with his late grandfather, who had been with the Marine Corps.

"Kendrick was proud of him, proud that his grandfather was a hero," said Castillo. "Part of me knows that Kendrick wanted to live this legacy."

The teenager kept the flag that once covered the coffin of his grandfather and he prayed and kissed his tombstone in the Fort Logan National Cemetery.

"I loved patriotism," Castillo said. "We are Hispanic by nature, but we love the United States at the base."

Castillo and his wife Maria were not surprised to learn that their son had risked his life. He was raised to be responsible and "to be good".

"It was not an average child," said Castillo. "It was extraordinary."

One of Kendrick's friends sent an SMS to Castillo to tell him that his son had run to the attacker.but at that moment, I did not know what to think. They saw other students coming out of yellow school buses and meeting their parents"And we do not live that," said Castillo.

The couple learned that Kendrick was killed when he went to the hospital to pick him up and officials told him that his body was still in the clbadroom. While they were waiting to see their son, the students approached them and called their son a hero.

While Castillo and his wife are mourning their son, he says that They want Kendrick's clbadmates to recover, go to college, get married and start their own family surrounded by love.

Kendrick was the first to jump on Devon and, although his results were fatal, his action prompted other students to play. against him and take away his weapons.

His partner Nui Giasolli also thanked three other students who said that they ran towards the gunman. One of them was Brendan Bialy, a member of the current Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program (DEP) community.

"Some guys had the courage to shoot so that everyone else could escape and we could all get together with our families," he said in "Today". . "They were very heroic, I can not thank them enough."

Joshua Jones is one of the students who was injured. He was shot twice when he, Bialy and another student rushed on the attacker.

"Like most people, we consider ourselves lucky because the result was not worse, much worse"says a statement from his family. "Our hearts and heartfelt condolences come from Kendrick's family who has to deal with this unparalleled loss of such a special hero."

Last month there was 20 years of shooting at Columbine High School in this state, where 12 people died.