Two members of the US military were among the brave people who stopped a deadly shooter in an LGBTQ+ bar in Colorado.

Army veteran Rich Fierro was among those quick to act when he realised that someone was shooting inside Club Q, Colorado Springs.

His actions earned him a personal thank you and words of condolence from President Joe Biden.

Realising the attack late on November 20 was underway, Fierro ducked from the bullets thundering out of the AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle.

He then moved towards the shooter to try and disarm him, using his experiences as a former army major with three Iraq tours and one in Afghanistan under his belt.

He said of the tragedy: "It’s the reflex. Go! Go to the fire. Stop the action. Stop the activity. Don’t let no one get hurt. I tried to bring everybody back."

Fierro was attending the club alongside his daughter Kassy and her boyfriend Raymond Green Vance, along with some friends.

The group was there for a drag show and to celebrate a birthday, but their evening of fun turned into hell on Earth as young Raymond, 22, was fatally struck by a bullet.

Fierro himself sustained bruises and ended up covered in blood, according to his wife, Jess.

As the shooter fired, Fierro said he pulled him down while grabbing his body armour and screamed to another military person, Thomas James of the US Navy, to move the rifle out of their reach.

As the pair tackled him, the shooter is said to have reached for his pistol, but Fierro grabbed it and hit him with it repeatedly.

Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez: "I have never encountered a person who had engaged in such heroic actions who was so humble about it.

"He simply said to me, 'I was trying to protect my family'."

James, an information systems technician, was hospitalised but expected to make a full

Five people died in the attack and a further 17 were wounded. The alleged shooter has been named as 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, who faces five charges of first-degree murder and a further five for hate crimes.

The police department said on November 21: "Their exact actions are part of the investigation, so we can’t discuss the specifics out of respect for the judicial process, but with their permission, we want to acknowledge their heroic actions. They are Thomas James a and Richard Fierro."

Raymond's family said he was the "victim of a man who unleashed terror"

A heroic Fierro also said that he had "nothing but love" for the LGBTQ+ community.

Raymond's grieving family said in a heartbreaking statement: "On November 19th, 2022, Raymond Green Vance went to Club Q to enjoy a show with his longtime girlfriend, her parents, and her parents’ friends; they were celebrating a birthday.

"The 22-year-old had never been to that nightclub before, and although he is supportive of the LGBTQ community, he himself is not a member of it.

"Unfortunately, he never left the club. Raymond was the victim of a man who unleashed terror on innocent people out with family and friends."