Army veteran who stopped Colorado Springs shooter credits military training

A U.S. Army veteran who served three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan credits his military training with helping take down the gunman who attacked a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, calling his actions a “reflex.”

Rich Fierro, along with Thomas James, are the two who police credit with taking down Anderson Lee Aldrich, who is accused of killing five and injuring at least 25 others at Club Q on Saturday evening.

"It’s the reflex. Go! Go to the fight. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don't let no one get hurt. I tried to bring everybody back," Fierro said at a makeshift press conference outside his home.

Rich Fierro is a hero. Listen to him recount how he took the Club Q suspect down.

He says it was just the reflex. “Go. Go to the fight. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don’t let no one get hurt.” #richfierro #thomasjames #clubq pic.twitter.com/wavKFFJA0J

— Steph Wash (@WashNews) November 22, 2022

Fierro runs a local brewery, Altrevida Beer Co., with his wife. The veteran was at Club Q with his daughter Kassy, her boyfriend and several other friends to see a drag show and celebrate a birthday, according to the Associated Press.

It was during the performance that Aldrich entered the club armed with multiple firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle, and began firing. Kassy’s boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, was fatally shot.

After diving to the floor with anyone nearby, Fierro identified the shooter and charged him, pulling him down to the ground by his body armor and yelling at James to take his rifle.

Aldrich tried to reach for a pistol as he was being pinned by Fierro and kicked in the head by James. The combat veteran grabbed it and began pistol-whipping him with it.

“I tried to finish him,” he told reporters.

He also invited a drag performer running out to stop and kick the gunman. The performer “stuffed a high-heeled shoe in the attacker’s face,” according to AP.

When asked about being hailed a hero, Fierro replied, “I’m just some dude from San Diego.” He switched between English and Spanish through the press conference outside his house.