From USA Today:
“'Kendrick went out as a hero':
Fellow student who fought gunman lauds victim of Colorado shooting”
(Kendrick Castillo)
One of three students credited
with overpowering a gunman at a suburban Denver high school says Kendrick
Castillo, a close friend and the lone fatality from the carnage, was the true
hero who halted the bloodbath. “Kendrick went out as a hero,” Brendan Bialy
told reporters. “He was a foot away from the shooter and instead of running the
opposite direction he ran toward it.” Eyewitness accounts detailing how heroic
students and a former U.S. Marine helped end the attack at STEM School
Highlands Ranch continued to emerge as court proceedings began for the
suspects. Authorities arrested Devon Erickson, 18, and a second suspect – a
juvenile identified both as Maya McKinney and Alec McKinney – who they say
walked into classrooms at the K-12 school Tuesday and opened fire. Erickson, a
student at the school, faces a murder charge and dozens of attempted murder
charges in connection with the shooting that killed Castillo, 18. One of the shooters was disarmed and subdued
by a former Marine working as a private security guard patrolling the school,
his boss said. Eight students were wounded. Castillo, Bialy and Joshua Jones
minimized the bloodshed by attacking Erickson when the gunfire erupted in their
classroom, witnesses said. Jones was shot twice, according to a statement
released by his family. Bialy said they fought back out of instinct, and even
though the gunman got some shots off, Bialy wrestled the firearm from him and
they were able to subdue him. Bialy said he was scared but unwilling to recoil
from shooters he repeatedly called cowards. “They lost,” he said. “They
completely and utterly lost to good people.” Gov. Jared Polis called Castillo a
"hero" for charging at one of the shooters and lauded student Bialy
for taking similar action. Their bravery allowed other students to run for
cover and hide in closets and under desks. "Colorado will always remember
the heroism of Kendrick Castillo," Polis said in a statement. Castillo was
set to graduate this weekend. Bialy joined the U.S. Marines and is scheduled to
ship out for basic training this summer. "Brendan’s courage and commitment
to swiftly ending this tragic incident at the risk of his own safety is
admirable and inspiring," Capt. Michael Maggitti said in a statement. Wednesday
night, hundreds of students and parents gathered in a nearby public high school
to call for stronger gun control and better access to mental health. But
students from the STEM school, a charter school, stormed out in frustration
that their trauma was immediately being politicized. Those STEM students said
they had been told not to talk to reporters and criticized journalists covering
the event. Earlier in the rally, Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat who represents the
area, criticized politicians who offer “thoughts and prayers,” but don’t take
action. “Our children deserve action,” he said. “Tomorrow we must get to work.”
Appearing in court 24 hours after the shooting, Erickson on Wednesday spoke
only to acknowledge the judge’s questions, shaking his head or nodding at other
times. Prosecutors expect to formally charge him in the next several days, but
they persuaded the judge to withhold much of the evidence in the case from
public view while the initial investigation continues. Erickson is being held
without bond and is due back in court Friday. Also being held without bond is
McKinney, 16. Court records listed the defendant as Maya McKinney, but a
defense attorney said his client uses male pronouns and is named Alec. The
sheriff's office initially identified him as a boy and later said the suspect
was a girl. McKinney, who is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted
murder, appeared in court shackled at the wrists and ankles and sat alongside
his mother. McKinney responded to the judge’s questions in a clear but quiet
voice, saying, “Yes, your honor” and “No, your honor.” District attorney George
Brauchler says he hasn’t decided whether to file adult charges. McKinney is
being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and will also be back in
court Friday. Douglas County School District, which includes the STEM school,
canceled classes last month during an FBI manhunt for a woman
"infatuated" with the Columbine shooting. The school is about 8 miles
from Columbine High School. The STEM school will be closed for the rest of this
week, officials said. Polis ordered all flags lowered to half-staff on all
state buildings until sunset Tuesday. "We know that the life of a student
has been taken too soon,” Polis said. “America has seen too many senseless acts
of violence.”
^ These three people (Kendrick
Castillo, Brendan Bialy and Joshua Jones)
are real heroes. The majority of people (whether kids or adults) would
run in the opposite direction of gunfire (I’m not sure what I would do in a
similar situation.) It is an even sadder story when you think that they were
merely students in high school and that one of them was killed. No student
should have to wonder if they would run towards or away from a shooter in their
school. It is only right that we remember these three students for doing the
unthinkable and helping to save lives. ^
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