Sam Knopp had musical talent that demanded attention, said former bandmate Anthony Scornavacco. He recruited Knopp from a chance encounter in a music store, where he said the 24-year-old’s causal playing was “phenomenal.”

“He was probably the most skilled guitar player I’d ever met,” said Scornavacco.

From a later audition that was an immediate yes, the young guitarist was part of a band with primarily older professional musicians. Scornavacco said Knopp was “dedicated,” showing up to practice 30 minutes early and hitting every note he was asked to play perfectly.

He said Knopp was passionate about classic rock like Def Leppard and the Rolling Stones. An avid restorer, Knopp also spent his time working with antique radios and cars.

Knopp was with Scornavacco’s newly-formed industrial rock band Aeternum for almost three months before stepping away just weeks before his death. Knopp was killed along with Celie Montgomery, 26, in a shooting in the early morning hours of Feb. 16 on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus where Knopp was a senior.

Knopp’s roommate Nicholas Jordan, 25, was later arrested in connection with the murders and is facing charges.

Scornavacco said he and fellow bandmates were shocked to hear the news about Montgomery and Knopp.

“He was one of the nicest people you would ever meet,” he said.

The band’s debut concert was already set for April 26. In honor of Knopp, Aeternum is dedicating the concert to their former guitarist, with proceeds to benefit his family and pay funeral expenses.

Scornavacco said 50% of the show’s ticket profits would go to benefit Montgomery and Knopp’s family. He said several of Knopp’s family members are set to attend the concert from the venue’s green room. Tickets for the concert with a list of other acts and sponsors can be found here.

The band is also planning to raffle off a guitar played by Knopp and a drum set, with full proceeds going to the families.

With his talent and passion, Scornavacco said that Knopp would have had a great career ahead in music. In 20 years, Scornavacco said “he would probably be playing arenas.”

“If anyone was going to go all in on chasing their dreams, it was him,” he said.