A Catholic church in Douglas County is petitioning to make Kendrick Castillo, the student killed in the 2019 STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting, a saint.

The Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs confirmed that it is reviewing a petition from St. Mark Parish in Highlands Ranch to open a cause for Castillo’s canonization, according to an announcement this week.

“Although I have just begun to review the information submitted, it seems clear that Kendrick was an exceptional young man,” Colorado Springs Bishop James Golka said in a statement. “As we study and discern how to approach the massive undertaking of promoting a canonization cause, I ask all the faithful to keep Kendrick’s family in their prayers.”

Father Gregory Bierbaum and Father Patrick DiLoreto of St. Mark Parish collected testimony and interviews about Castillo to determine whether his life was “one of heroic virtue” — an initial step in the canonization process, according to The Denver Catholic, published by the Archdiocese of Denver.

Representatives of the Archdiocese of Denver and the Diocese of Colorado Springs both declined interviews for this story.

If Golka approves the petition, he will then send it to the Vatican, where the Pope will decide whether the candidate lived a life of “heroic virtue.” If they did, then the Pope would give them the title of “venerable.” Next, a miracle must be granted via prayers made to the person after their death, which the church sees as proof they are in heaven, according to the BBC.

A second confirmed miracle is often needed for a person to achieve sainthood.

It can take several years for a person to be sainted, according to The Denver Catholic.

In 2016, the Denver Archdiocese began seeking sainthood for Julia Greeley, a formerly enslaved person. Her remains were exhumed from a grave in suburban Denver cemetery and placed at an altar at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — one of the steps in the sainthood process.

The petition for Greeley was accepted by the Vatican, but is still being considered, according to The Denver Catholic.

Castillo, 18, was shot when he rushed one of the shooters in his classroom. Students have said his actions that day allowed his peers to take cover under their desks and escape.

Castillo was hailed a hero after the shooting and during his memorial service, Douglas County sheriff’s deputies led the procession to the church — an honor typically reserved for fallen officers.

“…Kendrick Castillo gave his life to stop a school shooting at STEM Highlands Ranch, thereby saving the lives of his classmates,” DiLoreto of St. Mark Parish said on Facebook regarding the church’s petition. “He was a devote (sic) Catholic and wanted to introduce others around him to the Catholic faith and into (a) relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Castillo’s parents, John and Maria, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The school board hired David D. Powell Jr. with the Denver firm Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow and Farbes to conduct the investigation, according to a contract obtained by The Denver Post via an open records request.

Board President Carrie Olson said in May that directors planned to investigate Marrero’s allegations that Youngquist discriminated against employees of color. The contract shows that the investigation is now underway.

“Due to the nature of the complaint and the parties involved, it cannot be investigated internally,” Olson said in a statement Wednesday.

Youngquist said in an interview that he welcomed the investigation, but wished it had occurred before Marrero’s allegations were publicized.

“I’m glad that there will be an external investigation,” he said. “…A deep, impartial, fair investigation is necessary and important, and that is something that looks like is going to be happening.”

The board hired Powell to conduct the investigation on June 26. Any work by the firm’s partners will be billed to the board at an hourly rate of $425, according to the contract.

The hourly fee for any work on the investigation by the firm’s associates and paralegals is $375 and $200, respectively, according to the contract.

Powell declined to comment for this story.

Marrero sent an email to Olson in April asking the board to censure — or formally rebuke — Youngquist. He accused the school board member of hostile behavior toward staff, especially employees of color.

“Mr. Youngquist has repeatedly engaged in belittling, dismissive and condescending behavior toward district staff, especially employees of color,” Marrero wrote at the time.

He also accused Youngquist of wanting his job and actively working against the district.

The last time a DPS board censured a member was in 2021 after an outside investigation found Auon’tai Anderson had flirted online with a teenage student and made intimidating social media posts. The school board does not have the authority to remove a member.

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The funding freeze was set to upend the upcoming school year as districts had already budgeted the federal money and hired employees. Without the funds, Colorado school districts were preparing to cut jobs and programs.

The U.S. Education Department unexpectedly froze $6.8 billion in funding for literacy, English language instruction and other programs on the day before it was set to be distributed, part of what officials said was a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House’s priorities.

The money had already been appropriated by Congress and was required by law to go to the states on July 1.

“Federal dollars provide critical support for every child in Colorado — no matter where they live — to learn, grow and thrive,” Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova said in an email to superintendents Friday.

“We are grateful to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and to the many educators, district leaders, community partners, elected officials and public education supporters who advocated for the release of these much-needed funds,” she said.

The Education Department said Friday that the Office of Management and Budget had completed its review of the programs paid for by the withheld funds and will begin sending the money to states next week.

The Trump administration last week released part of the education money—  about $1.3 billion nationwide and more than $12.8 million for Colorado — that had been earmarked for after-school programs.

The decision came after a group of 10 Republican senators urged the administration to send the funds to districts. Colorado and dozens of other states also sued the Trump administration over its decision to hold back the school funding.

But the bulk of the money remained frozen.

“These are critical funds that Congress promised to our schools,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement. “…I am pleased by this announcement and will continue to ensure that the Trump administration follows through and follows the law.”

The funding that was under review included $2 billion in grants for teachers’ professional development and efforts to reduce class size; $1.3 billion for after-school and summer learning programs; $1 billion for academic enrichment grants, often used for science and math education and accelerated learning; $890 million for students who are learning English; $376 million to educate the children of migrant workers; and $715 million to teach adults how to read.

In withholding the funds, the Office of Management and Budget had said some of the programs supported a “radical leftwing agenda.”

“We share your concern,” the GOP senators wrote. “However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.”

Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was thrilled the funding would come through, but noted that “this uncertainty created significant chaos for families and schools with the school year only weeks away.”

In total, the Trump administration temporarily froze about $80 million in education funding for Colorado. 

“The Trump administration’s late-June announcement to freeze previously approved (federal) grant funding for schools sent shockwaves across the country,” Denver Public Schools spokesman Scott Pribble said in a statement.”This funding is absolutely critical for the education and well-being of many students, especially those who are most vulnerable, and for the teachers who support them.”

But Colorado’s largest K-12 district isn’t breathing a sigh of relief, Pribble said.

“Future years of (federal) funding are still in potential jeopardy,” he said. “So, while this is good, the long-term picture remains uncertain.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The agency said it identified two victims, including a man who died.

The agency posted on social media at 3:12 a.m. that the shooting occurred on the 1600 block of Pearl Street.

The department did not provide details about the second person wounded in the incident.

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Both agencies announced Friday that Saldate is leaving the Denver Department of Public Safety to start in his new role on Monday, becoming the bureau’s 12th director. Saldate replaces interim director Rebecca Spiess, who has led the agency since former Director Chris Schaefer retired in May, according to a news release.

“(Saldate) has led the Department of Public Safety with integrity, steady leadership, and a deep commitment to our community,” Mayor Mike Johnston stated in a news release. “His impact will be felt for years to come, and we wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

Chief of Staff Jeff Holliday will serve as acting director of the Denver Department of Public Safety until the city appoints a new leader, according to a news release.   

“I’ve had the honor of working alongside passionate public safety staff who have faced immense challenges with strength and integrity, and I am most proud of their unwavering resilience,” Saldate said in a news release about leaving the Denver agency. “Their courage, compassion, and tenacity continue to inspire me.”

Saldate began his career in 1993 at the Phoenix Police Department, where he focused on gang violence. He became a special agent and U.S. Marshal with the FBI’s Phoenix Division and was a member of the federal agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to the news release.

Schaefer announced his retirement earlier this year after allegations of misconduct. An outside investigation cleared him of the allegations, which included a claim that he wanted to push a Black employee out of CBI.

“While I always planned to exit the Department of Public Safety on the heels of my 30-year anniversary with the organization, it was critical to delay this announcement until the conclusion of the independent, third-party review,” he said in March. “I want to emphasize that I have not been asked to retire.”

The bridge, between Tejon and Mariposa streets, closed at 7 a.m. Friday and will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday.

The path on the bridge for walking and biking will remain open, according to the agency, but drivers will be rerouted during the closure. Those traveling east on Eighth Avenue will be directed to Wyandot Street. Motorists on Interstate 25 should use Sixth Avenue or Colfax Avenue as alternate routes, according to the department.

The incident happened near Eagle Gate and Pine Valley roads. Authorities are still determining whether it occurred on private or public property, Elk Creek Fire Spokeswoman Bethany Urban said.

The department received a call about the incident about 11 a.m. Thursday. When authorities arrived, they discovered an adult had died after the fall, Urban said. It’s not clear what the person was doing before they fell.

The person fell a total of 150 feet, but 50 feet was a “free fall,” she said.

“It was a recovery unfortunately, not a rescue,” Urban said.

The accident occurred at 10:45 p.m. at East Colfax Avenue and Emerson Street, according to police.

The vehicle was a dark blue, 2006 GMC Yukon. The car has a Nevada license plate with the number 1888B0.

The paint on the hood of the car is faded and there may be damage to the front driver’s side, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s alert.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call 911 or the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000.

Christopher Muckerman, 82, filed a lawsuit against the hospital — formerly known as Porter Adventist Hospital — in Denver District Court in February, which alleged employees dropped him when attempting to move him from a CT scanner platform to a bed.

“The jury demonstrated their concern over Porter’s failure to thoroughly investigate Chris Muckerman’s complaint about being dropped in the CT room,” said his attorney Jerome Reinan. “That of course is a serious complaint and the fact that the complaint never seemed to be fully resolved appears to have weighed heavily on the jury decision.”

AdventHealth Porter issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying “Patient safety remains a top priority, and we are committed to providing safe, compassionate whole-person care to everyone we serve.”

The hospital treated Muckerman in March 2024 for a spinal fusion surgery and he struggled with anesthesia afterwards, according to the lawsuit.

Muckerman’s surgeon ordered a CT scan. But when staff moved him, they dropped Muckerman “a considerable distance,” the lawsuit alleged.

The fall fractured Muckerman’s spine and required an additional surgery that same month, according to the lawsuit.

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The sheriff’s office arrested Messiah Williams, 18, on several charges, including first-degree murder after deliberation, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and tampering with evidence, according to a press release.

Deputies were dispatched to the 1300 Block of Sweet River Circle in Castle Pines at 11:36 p.m. Sunday, said Deputy Daniel Carlin, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies arrived, they discovered one woman was dead from apparent stab wounds. A second woman’s arm was injured. Officers believe the injuries were caused by a knife, according to the press release.

The injured woman, 20, is in critical condition at a hospital, but is expected to make a full recovery, Carlin said.

Deputies found Williams naked in a field about a mile from the scene of the apartment complex, said Sheriff Darren Weekly during a press conference.

Williams is related to the two women, but officers have not provided details on their relationship.

The woman who was killed will be identified by the Douglas County Coroner’s Office.

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