COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As the Colorado Springs community remembers the five people killed in the Club Q shooting one year ago, they also honor those who saved dozens of lives that night. Rich Fierro and Thomas James were hailed as heroes for tackling the shooter and holding them down until help arrived.
Like so many others in the club that night, Fierro spent the last year healing. He credits much of that to his family and community support.
"I still think to this day I’ll never be able to be thankful enough," Fierro said.
Many call him a hero. He doesn't agree with that.
"I just call myself Rich. I’m not [a hero]. I’ve said this multiple times. I truly, truly believe everyone in that room did heroic things. Regardless of what that looks like to the outside world. Everybody did their part," he said.
Fierro visited Club Q that night with his family. His daughter's boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, was one of the five people killed in the shooting.
"I think everybody in that room that night is forever changed regardless of what their injuries were. Regardless of who they may have lost. Nothing in there is going to bring back the five folks who passed," he said.
"Nothing is going to change the fact the people that were injured so horrible will never be able to move past that. They’re going to see scars forever. Those of us that were there and witnessed it and participated in helping folks, that’s a forever scar."
Fierro, who owns Atrevida Beer Co. with his wife Jess Fierro, said he leaned on his brewery community over the past year.
"We opened this place to create a space for everybody. Race, gender, culture, religion, political view, you pick it, we wanted everyone at the same table, and what better way to do that than with a beer and conversation?"
Atrevida became that place for many people following the shooting. People were lined up out the door looking to support Fierro, who helped so many that night.
Those unable to make it in made thousands of online merchandise purchases -- orders they're still working on.
"I was in the airport in New York City yesterday coming back, and a young lady stopped me and said, 'Hey, you’re Atrevida. I’ve seen that shirt before.' And I go, 'Really?' And she’s like 'I just got my shirt a week ago,'" he said. "We think it matters that people actually want to display Atrevida because I think it means something more than beer now."
More than beer means pouring into a community that has been so hurt. Fierro hopes together they can heal.
"That's a part of what our mission is as a brewery," he said. "It's about serving your community and doing what you can for those around you."
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