50-year-old Corey Comperatore was killed during the shooting at the Trump rally on July 13
On Saturday, July 13th, shots rang out during a presidential campaign rally in Butler, PA while former president Donald Trump spoke on stage. A gunman had positioned himself on a rooftop approximately 130 yards away and was able to fire multiple rounds before a Secret Service counter-sniper took him out.
The politician narrowly escaped the apparent assassination attempt and sustained injuries from a bullet grazing his right ear.
Tragically, Corey Comperatore, a retired fire chief from Buffalo Township, PA, lost his life during the incident. He was shot shielding his family after telling them, “Get down!”
Corey’s daughter Allyson described him as the “best Dad a girl could ask for”
Allyson Comperatore, who was beside her father when the shooting took place, shared a post on Facebook remembering her hero. She wrote:
“My sister and I never needed for anything. You call, he would answer, and he would do whatever it is that you needed, and if he didn’t know how he would figure out how. He could talk and make friends with anyone, which he was doing all day yesterday [July 13] and loved every minute of it. He was a man of God, and also looked after our church and our members as family.”
Trump honors Corey Comperatore on stage at the Republican National Convention
Donald Trump made his appearance at the Republican National Convention just two days after the near-death experience. During his acceptance speech for the GOP nomination, he brought the firefighting uniform and helmet of Corey Comperatore on stage.
Emotion filled the room as Trump said:
“He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. What a fine man he was.”
He then led the crowd in a moment of silence in honor of the fallen fire chief, father, and friend.
Trump has contacted the families of the victims
According to the New York Post, Helen Comperatore, Corey’s widow, shared on her private Facebook page that Donald Trump has called her to personally offer his condolences. She wrote:
“He was very kind and said he would continue to call me in the days and weeks ahead.”
She also shared that she had not accepted a call from President Biden, as her late husband was a devout Republican.
A GoFundMe has been created in support of the victims
In addition to Comperatore, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver sustained gunshot wounds that required immediate medical attention. Local Police have reported that they are now in stable condition.
Former President Trump has authorized a crowdfunding initiative created by one of his top financial advisors, Meredith O’Rourke.
To date, the fund has raised more than $5 million. Visit it here.