Kendrick Castillo's Name To Be Added To C-470's 'Highway Of Heroes'
(CBS4) - A section of C-470 will be named after a teenager who helped save lives during the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting. Kendrick Castillo died after charging the gunmen. He would have turned 19 this week.
Kendrick's parents, John and Maria, testified in front of state lawmakers on Monday for the new legislation that would rename C-470 between Santa Fe Drive and University Boulevard as the "Kendrick Castillo Memorial Highway."
"This is just a small token that we can do to honor a wonderful man," said state Rep. Patrick Neville, a Republican who represents a section of Douglas County.
Both the House and Senate passed the legislation as the parents wiped away tears. At one point lawmakers in the chamber stood as a photo of Kendrick flashed in front of them.
"I never want people to feel my pain. But I'm sure they see it," said John Castillo, who is now an outspoken advocate for armed security in schools and more mental health support for students.
"I think that's going to be part of Kendrick's legacy. That's what he did with his life."
Two other sections of C-470 -- known as the Highway of Heroes -- are already named after community heroes. One is named for Danny Dietz, a Navy SEAL from Littleton who was killed during a mission in Afghanistan in 2005. The other is named for Dave Sanders, the teacher who was killed along with 12 students during the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.
John Castillo thanked Neville and state Rep. Kevin Van Winkle for their efforts to get the measure heard on social media.
