A Richardson bar reopened Friday after a man stabbed a bartender and three customers before dying in a standoff with Richardson Police.

“It’s good to know that they’re most likely going to be ok. Obviously, the best scenario is none of this would’ve happened,” said manager Nico Otero.

Otero said all four face long roads to recovery, but he believes the outcome could have been worse had it not been for the heroic efforts of the bar’s regulars.

Wednesday night, 28-year-old Stephen Kwembe called a non-emergency dispatch line and said he’d kill as many people as he could before entering Good Vibes.

Otero said video inside the bar shows Kwembe attacking bartender Fefe with a knife. Kwembe allegedly stabbed customers Harrold Stemper, Reuben Blackwell, and Garret Ledger as they jumped in to help.

Others guarded the door, while outside, Richardson Police shot and killed Kwembe in a standoff.

Otero said the attack inside happened in a span of just 45 seconds.

“It looks like it was a pretty random event from someone who decided he no longer wanted to be here, and he was going to make a spectacle of it. And it sucks that he chose anywhere to do it, but personally speaking, it sucks that he chose my friends to take it out on. But at the end of the day, what happened happened, and all we can do is try to focus on helping these people recover,” he said.

Family members and the bar have organized online fundraisers to help with long recoveries. There are also t-shirt sales and early plans for a benefit concert.

Otero said Blackwell and Stemper both remain sedated and still face surgery. Ledger is now out of the ICU.

He worries not just about physical challenges but emotional ones for Fefe, a mom and good friend.

“She’s been there for all of us through a lot. I mean, the four years I’ve known her, I’ve been through a lot and she was there for all of it. She’s also been through a lot in the last year or two and she’s probably one of the happiest, most go lucky and loyal people you’ll ever meet,” said Otero.

“So does it surprise you that people would jump in to try and protect her?” asked NBC 5.

“Not at all. Not at all. We also joke about that we have the best regulars. No one can really dispute us on that now. I wasn’t surprised at all that people got injured defending her and defending the bar,” he said.

Despite claims that the suspect was seeking revenge, Otero said he’d never seen him.

Moving forward, Good Vibes is increasing security while focusing on helping their own.