Army veteran and drag queen helped stop gunman who opened fire on LGBTQ nightclub

An army veteran and drag queen helped stop the gunman who opened fire at Club Q in Colorado Springs.

Authorities have said a gunman walked into the popular gay club over the weekend and started unloading bullets.

He killed five people and injured at least 19 others, according to CNN.

According to the outlet, Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said that two nightclub goers had stepped in to confront the gunman, preventing him from harming more people.

“We owe them a great debt of thanks,” Vasquez said.

Richard M. Fierro is a 15-year trained army veteran and he's been revealed as one of the people who helped fight off the gunman.

He told The New York Times that he immediately sprung into ‘combat mode’ shortly after he saw the suspect open fire.

“I grabbed the gun out of his hand and just started hitting him in the head, over and over,” Fierro said.

As people began assisting Fierro, one man quickly grabbed the rifle from the floor and moved it away safely.

Fierro also credited a young drag performer for helping him during the melee.

According to the veteran, the unnamed drag queen began stomping on the gunman with her high heels as Fierro continued to strike Aldrich’s head.

Shortly after police arrived at the scene, Fierro feared that he had killed the gunman.

As Fierro was covered in blood, police tackled him to the ground and detained him in a cop car while he begged to see his family.

Tragically, Fierro’s daughter’s boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, was killed in the attack.

Fierro was identified as the man who tackled the shooter after authorities showed Club Q co-owner Nic Grzecka a photo of him.

Grzecka told the outlet: "I don't even know his name. I would really like to meet him."

The shooting suspect is in custody and being treated for injuries.

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers commended the veteran for his ‘incredible act of heroism’, as per BBC News.

He told reporters: "I have never encountered a person who engaged in such heroic actions that was so humble about it."

While Fierro is being praised for his efforts, he disclosed to The New York Times that he suffered immense psychological trauma from his army service, and his combat experiences haunt him to this day.

Ultimately it was the reason why he walked away.

“I was done with war,” he said.