On Sunday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that the man who was shot and killed at former President Trump’s campaign rally was a former fire captain, praising him as a “brave sacrifice” made to protect his family.
Shapiro stated that the man who tragically lost his life at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally on Saturday evening was named Corey Comperatore. He was a former captain of a volunteer fire brigade in Buffalo Township, Butler County, aged 50, and a father of two daughters.
“I just spoke to Corey’s wife and two daughters,” Shapiro said. “Corey was a good father. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community. Most importantly, Corey loved his family.”
Shapiro mentioned that he had sought the opinion of Comperatore’s wife, who agreed to share the details of their conversation with the public. He added, “She also wanted me to tell everyone that Corey died bravely.”
“At last night’s rally, Corey threw himself over his family to protect them,” Shapiro said, and indicated that he had directed flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of Comperatore.
According to eyewitnesses at the rally, one victim was shot in the head, presumably Comperatore. Additionally, two other attendees were severely injured.
The victim’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, took to Facebook to declare that Corey was a “hero protecting his daughters,” along with a recent photo of the family celebrating Corey’s 50th birthday.
Another family member, Allyson Comperatore, shared her condolences on Facebook, believed to be the daughter of the victim.
“He was the best father a girl could ask for,” Allyson wrote, along with several photos of the victim before his passing, including one with a birthday cake.
Allyson recounted that when the incident occurred, Comperatore shielded her and her mother with his body, blocking the bullets aimed at them. “He loved his family. He really loved us, enough to take a bullet for us,” Allyson continued.
A fundraising campaign specifically for Comperatore’s family was set up on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, raising nearly $80,000 in less than a day.