Army veteran hailed as hero after stopping shooter at LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs

More details are being shared about a deadly nightclub shooting in Colorado.

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Army veteran Richard Fierro is being praised after his heroic actions helped to take the gunman down and save lives.

Five lives were taken by the gunman, but witnesses said the death toll would’ve been much higher if not for the Fierro’s bravery.

“My family was in there. My little girl was in there,” Fierro said.

Read: Police identify 5 victims in Colorado Springs shooting; also identify 2 ‘heroes’

Fierro is still reeling after the mass shooting on Saturday night.

He was at the Colorado Springs venue with his family for a drag show.

He says he saw the shooter heading toward Club Q’s crowded patio.

Read: 5 killed, 25 hurt in shooting at LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs

“I saw the ACU-pattern flak vest, and for me that was like, ‘there’s a handle. I’m getting it.’ So I ran across the room, grabbed the handle, pulled him down,” he said.

His actions caused the gunman to drop his AR-15 style rifle.

He says that’s when others jumped in to restrain the shooter. One pushed away the rifle.

Read: Site of Colorado gay bar shooting ‘celebrated’ LGBTQ people

Fierro said he took the shooter’s handgun and beat him with it.

The shooter killed 5 people and shot more than a dozen others that night.

Fierro’s daughter’s longtime boyfriend didn’t survive.

Two of his friends were also shot.

Fierro’s wife and daughter were also shot. They’re still at the hospital and are expected to survive.

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