There are still many unanswered questions following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump Saturday except one — Corey Comperatore died a hero.
Comperatore, a former fire chief, died at a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
As shots rang out, Comperatore dove in front of his family to protect them from the gunfire. A bullet meant for Trump took Comperatore’s life, PBS reported.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Comperatore “died a hero,” per ABC News.
“His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.
As reports of Comperatore’s heroics to save his wife and daughter, those who knew him said they were not surprised, PBS reported.
The 50-year-old Trump supporter was a “man of conviction.”
“He’s a literal hero. He shoved his family out of the way, and he got killed for them,” said Mike Morehouse, a neighbor of Comperatore’s in Butler County for the last eight years. “He’s a hero that I was happy to have as a neighbor.”
Some took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their condolences.
Comperatore’s death also inspired Morehouse to vote for the first time.
“As soon as I heard what happened and then learned that it was to Corey, I went upstairs as soon as I got home and I registered to vote,” Morehouse said. “This is the first time I’ve ever voted and I think it will be in his memory.”
Others who knew Comperatore echoed Morehouses’s sentiments on what kind of man Comperatore was.
Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township volunteer fire company, said Comperatore was “a stand-up guy” and “a true brother of the fire service.”
“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out,” Reamer said. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone. … He was a really good guy.”
Fellow firefighters jumped into action to honor Comperatore immediately.
Plans to install memorial drapery on the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Co. station to honor Comperatore were in motion Sunday as a crew power washed the building.
Assistant Chief Ricky Heasley of Sarver knew Comperatore for more than a decade and remembered his friend as very outgoing.
“He never had a bad word,” Heasley said.
Two other people were critically injured. They are David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday night.
Support for Comperatore’s family came flooding in Saturday and Sunday.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden extended their “deepest condolences.”
“He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired and he lost his life, God love him,” Biden said.
A GoFundMe account for his daughter Allyson has raised $891,675. The goal was $7,000, per the GoFundMe page.
