Buffalo Township man killed at Trump rally remembered as good neighbor, dedicated public servant

A Buffalo Township man has been identified by family, friends and elected officials as the bystander killed after gunshots rang out at former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler County on Saturday.

Corey Comperatore, who recently turned 50, was formerly chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department.

News of his death spread quickly through the small rural town in southeastern Butler County and neighboring communities.

Matt Achilles of Buffalo Township, who lived near Comperatore for four years, described Comperatore as a good neighbor and dedicated public servant.

“He lived about six houses down from us,” Achilles said, adding that Comperatore attended Saturday’s rally with his wife and two children.

“He was a good person,” Achilles said Sunday morning. “We may not have agreed on the same political views, but that didn’t stop him from being a good friend and a good neighbor.”

Achilles remembers Comperatore’s generous nature and friendly demeanor.

“He gave us money when I was in the hospital and he always came to our garage sales. He always waved at me when I passed his house,” Achilles said.

Buffalo Township Supervisor Mike Oehling Jr. said he posted a message of condolence on his personal Facebook page Saturday night in honor of Comperatore.

In the message, Oehling wrote: “REST IN PEACE. Gone too soon. Father, friend and patriot. Will never be forgotten. May his memory live on as an example to us all. God bless Corey Compertore.”

Comperatore’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, took to her Facebook page Sunday to pay tribute to her late brother.

“Hatred for one man took the life of the man we loved most,” the message read, adding that Corey Comperatore had just turned 50. She could not immediately be reached for comment.

Corey Comperatore was employed as a project and tooling engineer at JSP, according to his Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.

Freeport Mayor Zack Gent released a statement Sunday in response to news of Comperatore’s death, describing the Freeport community, which neighbors Buffalo Township, as “heartbroken.”

Gent thanked Compertore for his decades of service to the Buffalo Township community and beyond as a volunteer firefighter.

“On behalf of the Town of Freeport, its first responders, leaders and residents, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Corey’s family,” said Gent. “We get through this with a little help from our friends. As a member of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, I am sure Corey helped our fire department and residents on more than one occasion. My heart breaks for his family and friends. I thank him for his service to his community and ours.”