Army Veteran Went Into 'Combat Mode' to Disarm the Club Q Gunman

[ItsjustMe]

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/us/colorado-springs-shooting-club-q-hero.html

Richard M. Fierro was at a table in Club Q with his wife, daughter and friends on Saturday, watching a drag show, when the sudden flash of gunfire ripped across the nightclub and instincts forged during four combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan instantly kicked in. Fight back, he told himself, protect your people.

In an interview at his house on Monday, where his wife and daughter were still recovering from injuries, Mr. Fierro, 45, who spent 15 years as an Army officer and left as a major in 2013, according to military records, described charging through the chaos at the club, tackling the gunman and beating him bloody with the gunman’s own gun.

“I don’t know exactly what I did, I just went into combat mode,” Mr. Fierro said, shaking his head as he stood in his driveway, an American flag hanging limp in the freezing air. “I just know I have to kill this guy before he kills us.”

Link to tweet

[Abolishinist]

1. For those who haven't, I strongly suggest reading the entire article.

He's a hero, saved a lot of lives, but such a tragic outcome for his family as well.

Eventually, he was freed. He went to the hospital with his wife and daughter, who had only minor injuries. His friends were there, and are still there, in much more serious condition. They were all alive. But his daughter’s boyfriend was nowhere to be found. In the chaos they had lost him. They drove back to the club, searching for him, they circled familiar streets, hoping they would find him walking home. But there was nothing.

The family got a call late Sunday from his mother. He had died in the shooting.

[markodochartaigh]

2. His wife and he

have a beer company in Colorado Springs, very appropriately named Atrevida Beer Company. Atrevida means daring!

[twodogsbarking]

3. Good guy, no gun.

[3Hotdogs]

4. I listened to the sound clip this morning where he described the scene. Then he broke down

in a way I have never heard a person do so.

I think he will be emotionally damaged from this for the rest of his life.