The Navy has confirmed that a sailor was among the 18 injured in the Colorado nightclub shooting on Nov. 19 that also left five dead. Local officials and police said the sailor played a key role in stopping the shooting.
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer Second Class Thomas James was among those injured, the Navy said in a statement released Tuesday but added that “James is currently in stable condition and we remain hopeful he will make a full recovery.”
News of James' injuries comes as many have begun to praise the heroic actions of another member of the crowd who served in the military — Army veteran Richard Fierro — who has been credited with heroically rushing the shooter, causing him to drop the AR-style rifle he was holding.
Read Next: The Navy Begins Major Revamp of Promotions, Starting with Master Chiefs
The Denver Post reported that, after Fierro had the shooter on the ground, he took the man's handgun from him and proceeded to beat the shooter with it. Meanwhile, James kicked the shooter in the head.
The Colorado Springs Police Department called both service members “heroes who intervened inside of Club Q” in a series of Tweets, while the mayor of Colorado Springs praised the pair “because their actions saved lives.”
James enlisted in the Navy in 2011, according to records released by the service, and served aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, as well as at posts in England and Naval Air…
