By RON TODT, MARC SCOLFORO and KIMBERLEE KRUESI, Associated Press
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The former fire chief killed at a rally for Donald Trump in Pennsylvania spent his final moments throwing himself in front of his family's eyes to shield them from the shots fired during an assassination attempt on the previous president on Saturday.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed on Sunday that 50-year-old Corey Comperatore died as a “hero” because he used his body as a shield to guard each his wife and daughter from the bullets.
“His wife told me he attacked his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their “deepest condolences” to Comperatore’s family.
“He was a father. He protected his family from the bullets that were fired and he lost his life, God bless him. We also pray for the full recovery of those injured,” Biden said.
At least two other people were injured within the try to kill Trump at Saturday's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Those two were identified as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, based on Pennsylvania State Police. Both were in stable condition Sunday.
Separately, Texas U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson said in a press release Sunday that his nephew was injured, but “fortunately his injury was not serious.”
“My family was sitting up front, near where the president was speaking,” Jackson said. “They heard gunshots – then my nephew noticed he had blood on his neck and something had grazed and cut his neck. He was being treated by the nurses in the medical tent.”
The Secret Service said it had suspected shooter, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally area.
The former president was showing a table with figures on border crossings when no less than five shots were fired. Trump held his ear and lay on the bottom. Agents quickly formed a protective shield around him. When he stood up with a bloody face, he clenched his fist in front of cheering supporters.
Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, called Comperatore an “honorable guy” and a “true brother to the fire department.” He said Comperatore was chief of the fireplace department for about three years, but was also a life member, meaning he served greater than 20 years.
“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help somebody,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in and never gave in to anybody. … He was a really good guy.”
A crew was busy on Sunday cleansing the facade of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department with a pressure washer and installing memorial curtains in honor of the murdered former chief.
Sarver Deputy Police Chief Ricky Heasley, who knew him for greater than a decade, remembered him as a really outgoing and fun-loving person.
“He never said a bad word,” Heasley said.
A GoFundMe The campaign launched to support the Comperatore family had already exceeded the $180,000 mark in donations by Sunday.
Todt reported from Philadelphia and Kruesi from Nashville, Tennessee.
Originally published:
image credit : www.mercurynews.com