Highlands Ranch, Colorado, a town just miles outside of Columbine, witnessed a sad and devastating time and event. On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 7 the school’s worst fears were realized when nine of its students were shot, one fatal and 8 injured.  Two students were being held as suspects.

    At 6:45pm, about five hours after the shooting , the Douglas county sheriff’s department released a statement saying that one of the nine injured students had died. Kendrick Castillo was killed taking down one of the alleged shooters at the school on May 7th. “A lot was taken from us that day. Our friend, our school, our sense of our security, our sense of agency and control in our lives. All of this seemed stolen from us” valedictorian Emma Goodwill said during their graduation ceremony just days later.

    Daniel Jensen, Colorado resident near the school, wasn’t there, but he has some things to say about what happened. Jensen says “these school shootings need to stop, kids need to grow up with respect and a nice attitude. Mothers and fathers… brothers and sisters are losing their children.. this is a big thing, very sad. Very tragic.”

    Jensen and so many others just wish the best for everyone and hopes that the outcome of this will be better for everyone. “The world has lost a good human that day but he will always be remembered as not only an amazing friend and student but as a hero” Jensen says.