A 50-year-old former Pennsylvania volunteer fire chief has been identified as a victim of the shooter who attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump.
Corey Comperatore, former fire chief of Buffalo Township, was shot and killed at Trump’s rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to local outlet WPXI. He is already being mourned across social media by family, friends, and firefighters.
“The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore,” his sister Dawn Comperatore Schafer posted on Facebook.
“He was a hero that shielded his daughters. His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable. My baby brother just turned 50 and had so much life left to experience. Hatred has no limits and love has no bounds. Pray for my sister-in-law, nieces, my mother, sister, me and his nieces and nephews as this feels like a terrible nightmare but we know it is our painful reality.”
Two others were critically wounded during the shooting at the Trump rally. Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was identified by the FBI as the man who fired at Trump and rallygoers from the top of a nearby tower.
A Secret Service sniper killed Crooks after he fired multiple rounds of bullets onto the crowd. Law enforcement later found explosives in his car parked close to the Trump rally.
“We lost a fellow Pennsylvanian last night, Corey Comperatore. I just spoke to Corey’s wife and Corey’s two daughters. Corey was a girl dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community,” an emotional Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro (D.) told reporters on Sunday.
Comperatore’s wife gave Shapiro permission to share the fact that they spoke and asked Shapiro to share the details of her husband’s heroic sacrifice.
“Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night at this rally. Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing,” Shapiro added. “Political disagreements can never, ever be addressed through violence.”
Trump was wounded during the shooting when a bullet grazed his ear and caused the former president to fall to the ground. Secret Service agents immediately helped Trump to his feet with blood pouring down his face. Defiant in the face of violence, Trump pumped his fist and chanted “fight” to the crowd, a moment of resilience that instantly became an iconic representation of his political career and unshakeable spirit.
“We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump said on Truth Social this morning.
President Joe Biden is expected to address the nation again shortly.