Corey Comperatore identified as the man killed in Trump rally shooting
“Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/TXZGPFML4NCFHLCTIIP5NBWHTU.jpg)
The man killed when shots broke out at former President Donald Trump’s rally Saturday was shielding his wife and two daughters, a family member posted on Facebook.
A sister identified the victim as 50-year-old Corey Comperatore.
In a Facebook post mourning his loss, Dawn Comperatore Schafer described her brother as a hero.
“The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most. He was a hero that shielded his daughters,” Schafer wrote. “My baby brother just turned 50 and had so much life left to experience. Hatred has no limits and love has no bounds.”
In statements on Facebook, Corey Comperatore’s daughter Allyson described her father as “a real-life superhero” who died trying to shield her and her mother as gunfire erupted at the rally.
Comperatore, who lived in Sarver, Butler County, was a firefighter who loved his family, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference.
Shapiro said he has called for flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Comperatore.
“Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing,” Shapiro said.
» READ MORE: Why Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to assassinate Donald Trump is a mystery to investigators and his ex-classmates
Prior to the news conference, Shapiro met with Comperatore’s family as well as the family of one of two shooting victims who remain hospitalized.
Pennsylvania State police identified the two people who were wounded but survived as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pa., and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pa. Both victims are hospitalized and in stable condition, according to state police.
Comperatore, Shapiro said, was an avid Trump fan who was eager to attend the rally.
“Corey was a girl dad, Corey was a firefighter, Corey went to church every Sunday, Corey loved his community, and most especially he loved his family,” Shapiro said.
» READ MORE: Conspiracy theories spread wildly online after Trump shooting
A longtime family friend said Comperatore was a family man, an always-helpful neighbor, and a firefighter who was respected widely in his community.
“He was amazing,” Jason Bubb, said Sunday. “Anything we needed, he was there at the drop of a hat. He’s been there for my kids since they were born.”
Bubb said the selfless act of protecting his family was a “spot-on” reflection of the man he knew. “It’s a terrible loss,” he said.
Bubb went to high school with Comperatore’s daughter Allyson and has lived near the family for a decade. News of his death has been shattering to those who knew him in Butler County.
“I don’t have words,” Bubb said. “It’s disgusting.”
» READ MORE: GOP delegates from Pa. prepare to give Trump a ‘hero’s welcome’ in Milwaukee
When Bubb reached out to Allyson, he offered to help by setting up an online fundraiser through the gym he owns, Three Six Fit, in Cabot, Pa., where Comperatore and his daughter were members, he said.
“I opened this gym to support and help those in my community,” he said, “and I feel like my name was called on.”
The GoFundMe had raised over $100,000 shortly by 1 p.m. Sunday.