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Decorated Army veteran Richard Fierro—who was in Colorado Springs' LGBTQ+ Club Q with his wife and daughter to watch the weekly drag show—emotionally recalled how he worked with other patrons to stop the gunman who opened fire in the club, killing 5 and injuring others.
Fierro was watching the drag show when the gunman opened fire. The shooter was wearing armor and wielding an AR-15-style rifle and carrying two handguns.
Fierro and his wife, Jessica, recounted how Fierro charged across the room, took down the gunman and began to beat him with his own weapon.
The New York Times reported Fierro said:
"I just went into combat mode."
"I just know I have to kill this guy before he kills us."
Fierro then said he started yelling orders to a nearby man who also helped.
According to The Washington Post, Fierro beat the shooter with his pistol while ordering the man to remove the gunman's rifle.
Fierro recounted:
"I said, 'Kick him! Move the AR!'"
"Then I just started hitting him."
"But he was in armor plates, so I started hitting him wherever there was skin."
Fierro then said the man helping him began to tire, so he shouted to a person he saw in high heels to kick the shooter to dislodge the gun.
"She kicked him because the other guy was tired."
Del Lusional—the drag queen who was hosting the show that night—shared on Twitter the patron in heels who kicked the gunman to dislodge the rifle is a trans woman. She was previously misidentified in interviews and online as a drag queen.
Del Lusional tweeted:
"The one who saved my life and stomped the shooter's face in was not a drag queen, she is a trans woman."
Del Lusional made it clear she did not think Fierro purposely misidentified the patron as a drag performer. She added she wanted to clarify so moving forward the information would be correct.
A news conference from Fierro's home can be seen only on YouTube due to playback restrictions.
WARNING: NSFW language
A clip from the press conference can be seen below.
\u201cAn army veteran who helped subdue the gunman at a gay club in Colorado Springs credits his military training and instincts. Richard Fierro spoke outside his home and described what happened. https://t.co/BaatrMpaGG\u201d— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press) 1669156320
On Monday, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said:
"I have never encountered a person who had engaged in such heroic actions who was so humble about it."
"He simply said to me, 'I was trying to protect my family.'"
The masses took to Twitter to applaud Fierro and thank him for his courage.
\u201cHey Kyle Rittenhouse, meet Richard Fierro, a real hero. He and a trans woman took down a six and half foot man, firing an AR-15 and kicked his ass. Did I mention he was unarmed? These are the real American heroes.\u201d— Carlos Rosado (@Carlos Rosado) 1669076387
\u201cAshli Babbitt was NOT a hero. \nShe was a domestic terrorist.\n\nRichard Fierro IS a hero. \nHe saved many lives. \n\nAny questions?\u201d— Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1669138519
\u201cRichard Fierro is badass not only for saving a bunch of lives on Saturday when he took out the Colorado Springs gunman \u2014 but also for his outlook on life. \n\nhttps://t.co/9kS4SgIr3H\u201d— Jack Nicas (@Jack Nicas) 1669080475
\u201cRichard Fierro = Hero \n\nAshli Babbitt = Terrorist \n\nKyle Rittenhouse = Murderer \n\nKari Lake = Loser\u201d— Chris Hahn (@Chris Hahn) 1669127903
\u201cRichard Fierro, the Army veteran who disarmed the Colorado Springs gay bar shooter, on what he thought about being at a drag show for the first time: \u201cThat is what I fought for, so they can do whatever the hell they want.\u201d\u201d— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen) 1669157927
\u201cIn a world of Kyle Rittenhouses, be a Richard Fierro.\u201d— Derrick is PRO CHOICE\u264e #BLM \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Derrick is PRO CHOICE\u264e #BLM \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1669126423
\u201cWe owe Colorado heroes Richard Fierro and Thomas James an outstanding debt of thanks for confronting and fighting the gunman and preventing further violence at the Club Q Shooting.\u201d— Governor Jared Polis (@Governor Jared Polis) 1669079904
\u201cRichard Fierro saved so many lives. He deserves all our gratitude. Thanksgiving!\nhttps://t.co/00VYhHdDwd\u201d— Laurence Tribe (@Laurence Tribe) 1669082807
\u201cColorado veteran who tackled gunman at LGBTQ club describes risking his life to save his family. \u201cI\u2019m not a hero, I\u2019m just some dude,\u201d Richard Fierro said.\n\nYou know he's a true hero when he says I'm just some dude, not a hero\u201d— Mayra Flores (@Mayra Flores) 1669149397
\u201cThank God for Richard Fierro, who saved countless lives at Club Q.\u201d— BrooklynDad_Defiant!\u262e\ufe0f (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!\u262e\ufe0f) 1669082753
Fierro and his wife own microbrewery Atrevida Beer Co. in Colorado Springs.
Jessica Fierro posted on Facebook Richard injured his knee, hands and ankle during the attack at Club Q.
She also revealed two of their friends were shot multiple times and their daughter Kassandra broke her knee.
Kassandra's boyfriend Raymond Green Vance was killed in the attack.
People on Twitter wanted to show their gratitude by supporting the Fierro family's business.
\u201cWhat do you say we all go to Atrevida Beer Company in Colorado Springs - owned by Richard Fierro - who took down the shooter at #ClubQ - and buy every pint in their cooler?\u201d— Steve Staeger (@Steve Staeger) 1669071006
\u201cRichard Fierro is the Army vet who chased down the Club Q shooter with his wife and daughter. He owns a brewery. His wife is the brewmaster. They have merch.\nhttps://t.co/dbsyRT7mXP\u201d— Marc Morehouse (@Marc Morehouse) 1669151455
\u201cBought a shirt from Richard Fierro\u2019s brewery to say thanks for caring about his family and community to take action and put his own life in danger to save others during the shooting at Club Q. - https://t.co/3jlZEqRug2\u201d— Tim Akimoff (@Tim Akimoff) 1669166171
\u201cJust ordered this merch from the brew pub owned by Richard Fierro and his wife, Jess Fierro, who\u2019s the brew master. He\u2019s the Army veteran and hero who took down the shooter at Club Q. Let\u2019s show them some love! Check out their website: https://t.co/noLvDA7N7O\u201d— Barb McQuade (@Barb McQuade) 1669117182
\u201c@NoLieWithBTC @MeidasTouch If you'd like to support Richard Fierro, the hero of #ClubQ in #ColoradoSprings, consider buying a gift card and/or other products from he and his wife's Atrevida Beer co.\n\nhttps://t.co/0ZAr8L7P37 \n\n#RichardFierro \n#ColoradoSpringsMassacre\u201d— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen) 1669157927
\u201cRichard M. Fierro, the hero who tackled the Colorado Springs gunman, owns a local Brewery called Attrevido Beer Co. with his family. Let\u2019s crash their website by buying out all their gift certificates and other merch in support: https://t.co/9clIZQfNGi\u201d— Molly Knight (@Molly Knight) 1669068676
\u201cIt\u2019s now going to be my new regular stop whenever I\u2019m in the Springs.\u201d— Steve Staeger (@Steve Staeger) 1669071006
Clearly they live their values, seem like some people we should definitely all support. pic.twitter.com/KwEiYLrgWG
— Ryan White (@whiteryanc) November 21, 2022
Jessica added in her post:
"We are devastated and torn. We love our [LGBTQ+] community and stand with them."
"This cowardly and despicable act of hate has no room in our lives or business."
"F*CK HATE. It has left us and our community scarred but not broken."
"Much love to everyone."