Richard M. Fierro
Richard M. Fierro is a former U.S. Army major, a 15-year veteran who served in Afghanistan and did three tours of duty in Iraq,[1] earning two Bronze Stars.[2] He is best known for stopping a mass shooting in a Colorado Springs nightclub that killed five patrons and injured 19 more in November 2022.[2]
Early life and military service[edit]
Fierro was born and grew up in San Diego, California. He attended San Diego State University and in 1999 he was the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Distinguished Military Graduate, commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer. Over the next 15 years he served in the Army as a Platoon Leader, Battery Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Brigade Plans Officer, and Corps Counter Fire Officer, completing four combat tours, three in Iraq, and then another in Afghanistan.[3] He lost two friends in his unit who were killed in combat, and in part suffered from PTSD as a result.[2]
Civilian career[edit]
Following his discharge work as a defense contractor with Northrop Grumman instructing Army unit level leaders regarding the military decision-making process and tracking of current operations. He became a manager and deputy site lead at the Fort Carson Mission Training complex managing exercises and collective training. In 2017 he received the 2017 Northrop Grumman Quality is Personal Ethics award and 2019 Culture Builder Award.[3]
He continued his education, enrolling in a Master of Business Administration program at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He graduated in 2021.[3]
In 2018, the Fierros founded a boutique brewery, Atrevida Beer Co. (Spanish, for "daring"), in Colorado Springs, winning numerous civic and industry awards. Their Dolores Huerta lager garnered a first prize.[4] In 2019 they were awarded the Colorado Governor’s Minority Small Business Award.[3]
Actions at Club Q[edit]
During the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub shooting, Fierro charged across the room and tackled the gunman to the ground, then wrested the automatic rifle and a pistol from the attacker's hand and used the handgun to strike the killer repeatedly in the head.[5][6][7] He recruited and directed two other patrons to assist him, subduing the 300+ pound killer.[2]
In the chaos, Fierro's daughter Kassandra's longtime boyfriend was among the five patrons who were killed. Kassandra broke her kneecap, with 19 others also being injured. Fierro obtained tourniquets from a police officer and applied them to the wounded.[2] As he was covered in blood, the Colorado Springs police department handcuffed Fierro and detained him for over an hour, locking him in a squad car.
The Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said regarding Mr. Fierro that he was struck by his humility. "I have never encountered a person who engaged in such heroic actions and was so humble about it."[2] Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, "We are eternally grateful for the brave individuals who blocked the [shooter] likely saving lives in the process."[5] President Joseph Biden added to the accolades pesonally calling Fierro. The president's press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “He offered his condolences ... and thanked him for his bravery and again for his just instinct to act and the ability — by him doing that, saving maybe dozens of lives.”.[8]
In response to Fierro's actions, right wing social media platforms had contributors questioning his sexual identity, motivation, and even whether the shooting had happened at all.[9]
Personal life[edit]
Fierro and Jessica Martinez married in 1999; they have two children, Kassandra and Ricardo.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ Army veteran describes moment he took down Club Q shooter, Washington Examiner, Cami Mondeaux, November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Philipps, Dave (2022-11-21). "An Army Veteran Says He Went Into 'Combat Mode' to Disarm the Gunman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Richard Fierro MBA 2021, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ↑ Economy & Business Latinas who brew seek to shake craft beer industry, Axios, Russell Contreras, October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tucker, Emma; Levenson, Eric; Watson, Michelle; Rose, Andy; Vera, Amir (November 20, 2022). "What we know about the Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub shooting". CNN. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ↑ Arellano, Gustavo (November 22, 2022). "Club Q hero Rich Fierro and wife have always been heroes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ↑ Hennessy-Fiske, Molly; Gowen, Annie (November 21, 2022). "Army veteran recounts subduing gunman at Colorado LGBTQ club". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ↑ Biden calls Colorado club shooting hero Richard Fierro, who White House says saved 'dozens', New York Post, Steven Nelson, November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ↑ The Far Right Is Already Attacking the Club Q Hero, Vice News, David Gilbert, November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
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