Love, Not Hate

"It's the reflex. Go. Go to the fire. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don't let no one get hurt."

"I'm not a hero. I'm just some dude."

"I wish I could have saved everybody in there."

"I wish I could have done more."

Rich Fierro, former U.S. military

 

"He had just gotten a new job at a Colorado Springs FedEx distribution centre, and was thrilled to have received his first paycheque.:"

He couldn't wait to save enough money to get his own apartment."

Family of 22-year-old Raymond Green Vance

Richard Fierro, right, talks with his brother Ed Fierro about his efforts to subdue the gunman in Saturday's fatal shooting at Club Q, during a news conference Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, outside his home in in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Richard Fierro served fourteen years in the U.S. military, was awarded the Bronze Star twice, serving as a field artillery officer in three tours of Iraq and one of Afghanistan. He just happened to be at a Colorado LGBTQ club in support of a drag show performer who was a friend of his daughter. When gunfire broke out, his army training took over.

 

He grasped the armour-wearing gunman, pulling him to the floor, then took possession of a pistol the man was wielding and beat him with it. This followed the gunman's shooting to death of five people and wounding at least 17 others. Among the dead was Fierro's daughter's boyfriend, Raymond Vance.

Colorado Springs' mayor, John Suhers -- where the assault on the gay bar took place -- had earlier identified Mr. Fierro as one of two 'heroes' who had sprung into action. Thomas James was the other, who "saved a lot of lives" by taking the gunman out of commission, at the Colorado Springs Club Q.

Mr. Fierro described a young man who had been dancing with his daughter, pulling her away to safety when the shooting began. And he described a drag performer who kicked the gunman with high heels while Fierro held down the 22-year-old shooter. He praised James for removing the rifle from the gunman's grasp, an AR, and kicking him.

When police arrived on the scene, they saw Fierro holding the gun he had taken from the shooter, detaining Fierro for an hour, questioning him. He spoke of the shock of his daughter's boyfriend's death. A young man he had known since his daughter was in high school. "He's a good kid. And I loved him", said Fierro.

 

The young man was there, at the club as a first-time visitor, as a supporter of the LGBTQ community. The families of all five shooting victims spoke of their loss, of their love and admiration for their lost children, sister, wife. Kurt Paugh spoke of his wife Ashley who he described as an "amazing mother", who worked at a non-profit helping to find homes for foster children. "This included working with the LGBTQ community to find welcoming foster placements for children", he added.

Two transgender club bartenders were murdered in the assault, both young, with their lives ahead of them, cut tragically short.

In this image from El Paso County District Court video, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, center, could be seen slumped over in a chair in a brief video appearance from jail in Colorado Springs, Colo., Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. | El Paso County District Court via AP