Benefit concert supports victims of UCCS shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) — It has been two months since a shooting at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs took the lives of two students.

On Friday, some local Colorado bands honored their lives and legacy with a benefit memorial concert.

“Sam was 100% one of the most dedicated musicians I have ever met in my entire life,” said Anthony Scornavacco, lead drummer for Aeternum and a bandmate of Samuel Knopp, one of the students who was killed.

Sunshine Studios hosted the celebration-of-life fundraiser to keep Knopp’s memory alive.

“It was really tragic to hear what happened,” said Aaron Peoples, lead singer of Hopefully Soon. “I feel like it was really cool of the vendor to put together a show where every musician in the community gets together and is able to celebrate a life like this.”

Knopp was getting a music degree at UCCS and was a talented musician himself.

“Sam was like the Eddie Van Halen of the 21st century,” Scornavacco said.

A community of musicians came together from all across Colorado to honor one of their own.

“The best way to celebrate anybody or remember anybody — especially someone so involved with music — is to keep playing music,” Peoples said.

‘Music heals the soul’

Scornavacco said they are coming together to heal and support each other, with 50% of the proceeds going to Knopp’s family.

“Music heals the soul. So I can only imagine what live music, feeling the bass coming through, is doing for the families right now,” he said.

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Through the concert, bands said they hope to carry on the name of a memorable and dedicated young man.

“It takes a certain type of individual to go ahead and put themselves in hundreds of thousands of dollars of student debt, just for a pipeline dream, or at least what most people think is a pipeline dream,” Scornavacco said.

He also said if the band gets to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he will make sure Knopp is also recognized for all his contributions.

“Without him, we wouldn’t have been as motivated to go ahead and do what we’re doing.”

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