Kendrick Castillo.Photo: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
One of the two former students who opened fireat a Colorado high school in 2019, killing hero 18-year-oldKendrick Castilloand injuring eight others, has been convicted of multiple crimes including murder, PEOPLE confirms.
Devon Erickson, 20, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after jurors Tuesday convicted him on 46 separate criminal counts stemming from the attack at the STEM School in Highlands Ranch — including 31 for attempted murder and three for the first-degree murder of Castillo.
Castillo was hailed a heroin the wake of his death when officials revealed he died protecting his fellow students.
Several of the charges carry mandatory minimums, which add up to a life sentence.
Jurors deliberated for less than five hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts following three weeks of testimony.
Last year, the other shooter, 18-year-old Alec McKinney, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges for his role in the shooting.
McKinney, who was 16 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years on the murder charge, as well as 38 more years on the other charges.
Like many parents today, Castillo’s father had spoken to the 18-year-old senior about the prospects of a mass shooting at his school.
Kendrick Castillo.Maria Castillo/Instagram
John Castillo spoke toNBC Newssoon after the May 7, 2019, shooting,recalling that fateful conversation, during which he advised the teen: “You don’t have to be the hero.”
John recounted that Kendrick remained adamant about trying to engage a shooter if it ever came to that.
The father said his late son told him, “‘You raised me this way. You raised me to be a good person. That’s what I’m doing.'”
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John addressed reporters after the verdict was delivered.
“I’m sure Kendrick was looking down on us today,” the father said with tears in his eyes,reportsthe Denver Post. “This day is justice for him. I never thought I’d be fighting for justice for a crime that should never have happened.”
Survivor Mitchell Kraus, one of Kendrick’s classmates, also spoke to reporters, saying he hopes the verdict brings some closure.
“We’re all part of a family we never wanted to be a part of because this event never should have happened,” Kraus explained, according tothe Post. “[The shooter] is never going to breathe a breath of free, fresh air ever again.”
source: people.com
