In downtown Denver, at the corner of 21st and Lawrence, there is a brick wall that stops people in their tracks. On it, Kendrick Castillo looks out over the parking lot with a warm smile, glasses on, suit and tie sharp against a blue sky. The mural is simple at first glance, but anyone who knows Kendrick’s story feels the weight behind it.

Kendrick was eighteen years old when he gave his life protecting classmates during the 2019 STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting. His actions allowed hundreds of other students to go home that night.

The mural in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood was created to honor that courage and to keep his spirit present in the city he loved. It was unveiled in October 2020 in a LAZ parking lot just a few blocks from Samaritan House, a location chosen with intention. Kendrick cared about people who were struggling, and his parents felt it was fitting that his image would look out on a space where many neighbors in need pass by.

A Denver Tribute on a Shared Wall

The Kendrick mural is part of a larger wall dedicated to victims of violence and loss. On the same stretch of brick, three other portraits remember people whose lives were cut short, turning the lot into an open air memorial and a place of reflection rather than just another anonymous urban space.

Colorado Street Art worked closely with Kendrick’s family to make sure the mural reflected who he really was, choosing an image of him smiling against a calm, starry blue background. Colorado Street Art also curated the entire wall, bringing the portraits together into a single, unified tribute to lives taken too soon. Kendrick’s father John has said they never had to search hard for a picture of Kendrick smiling. That is simply how he showed up in the world.

Painting the wall this way is about more than likeness. It is about presence.

Painting a Presence, Not Just a Portrait

The mural is large enough that when you stand in the lot, Kendrick feels present rather than distant. The brick texture shows through the paint, giving it a grounded, physical quality. It is not a glossy poster or a banner that could be taken down. It is literally built into the wall.

During the unveiling, Kendrick’s parents stood in front of the mural with community members, friends, and supporters. John spoke about his son’s kindness and quiet strength and shared his hope that people walking by on hard days might look up, see Kendrick’s face, and feel a little less alone.

That intention gives the mural a purpose beyond remembrance. It is not only about looking back at what happened, but offering comfort in the present.

Community Response and Living Legacy

The response to the mural has been emotional and ongoing. Former classmates and community members have visited the site, left flowers, taken photos, and shared memories online.

One of Kendrick’s classmates, Lucy Sarkissian, has spoken about how his actions gave her classroom enough time to lock down and stay safe. She later started Cupcakes 4 Change, a cupcake company that supports causes Kendrick cared about, giving his legacy a tangible, everyday impact.

Beyond the wall itself, Colorado communities have honored Kendrick in other ways. Douglas County renamed a stretch of Lucent Boulevard in Highlands Ranch to Kendrick Castillo Way, a reminder woven into the everyday map of the area he called home.

All of these tributes – the mural, the street name, the community projects – speak to how deeply people have been moved by his courage and kindness.

Art as a Stand Against Violence

The wall at 21st and Lawrence is not an easy mural in the sense of subject matter. It asks people to remember violence and loss. But it also stands firmly against that violence by lifting up the people whose lives meant so much more than the moment they were taken.

The Kendrick mural ties that mission directly to a young man who embodied bravery and compassion in the most extreme circumstances.

For Colorado Street Art, murals like this one are about more than paint. They are about telling stories that might otherwise fade into headlines and anniversaries. A wall can become a shrine, a touchstone, a place where grief, gratitude, and hope exist together.

Visiting the Mural

If you visit the mural today, you will find it in the LAZ parking lot at 2100 Lawrence Street in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood, on the edge of Five Points. Cars come and go, games let out nearby, people walk to and from work or the shelters and services in the area. Above all that movement, Kendrick’s smile remains steady.

It is worth taking a moment to stand there, look up at the wall, and say his name.

Kendrick Castillo’s story is one of extraordinary courage, but the mural reminds us that he was also a kind, funny, robot loving teenager who cared deeply about people. The Denver mural keeps that full picture alive, turning a brick wall into a lasting promise: that his bravery, his love for others, and his memory will not be forgotten.

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/kendrick-castillo-mural-denver