A Pennsylvania father was hailed as "a hero" by the state's governor after sacrificing his life to protect his family from gunfire at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump.
Corey Comperatore, 50, a former fire chief, was identified by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as the man who was shot and killed in the crowd during an assassination attempt on Trump at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
An enthusiastic Trump supporter, Comperatore attended the event with his wife and two daughters. When shots were fired, he shielded his family, as his wife recounted to Shapiro.
"She also asked that I share with all of you that Corey died a hero," Shapiro said at a press conference in Butler. "Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing."
Shapiro described Comperatore as a dedicated firefighter, loving father, and regular churchgoer.
Fellow attendees and Pennsylvania residents David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were also wounded but are in stable condition, according to officials.
Comperatore's colleagues at the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department expressed their grief over his loss.
Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania, was killed by gunfire while shielding his family during a Trump rally, officials said. Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company via AP
"I just can't believe it happened," said Craig Cirrincione, a fire department lieutenant who knew Comperatore for 16 years, to NBC News Now. "Truly a good, God-fearing, hard-working man who loved his family. This was the last thing he ever deserved.
"He was a man who would give the shirt off his back to anyone," he added. "In his last moments, he was shielding his family from gunfire. Even if it had been a stranger beside him, he would've done the same thing."
Paul Hayden, 62, a neighbor of Comperatore, mentioned they got along well despite their political differences.
"He knew I was a Biden fan, and I knew he was a Trump fan," Hayden told NBC News. "But we never let that come between us. We still greeted and talked to each other. Some people take it to the extreme."
President Joe Biden spoke about Comperatore during a speech on July 13 following the shooting.
"He was a father protecting his family from bullets," Biden said. "He lost his life. God loved him."
Vice President Kamala Harris also paid tribute to Comperatore in a post on X.
Doug and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, who was tragically killed at former President Trump’s rally. He was a husband, father, and firefighter who was shielding his family from gunfire. Our hearts break for this loss from yesterday’s…
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 15, 2024
"Doug and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, who was tragically killed at former President Trump’s rally," she wrote. "He was a husband, father, and firefighter shielding his family from gunfire. Our hearts break for this loss from yesterday’s abhorrent violence."
Trump revealed he was grazed by a bullet on his right ear before Secret Service agents swiftly removed him from the stage.
The alleged shooter, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, was killed by law enforcement, officials said.
"Last night was shocking for this community, this commonwealth, and I know for this country," Shapiro stated at his press conference.
"Political disagreements must never be addressed through violence. Disagreements are okay, but we need to use a peaceful political process to settle those differences."