Late former fire chief used his body to protect his family

Logan Check, left, a junior firefighter, and Randy Reamer, president and rescue captain of Buffalo Township Fire Company 27, hang banners on the fire station in memory of fellow firefighter Corey Comperatore, in Buffalo Township, Pa., Sunday, July 14, 2024. Comperatore was killed in a shooting at a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., on Saturday. The station’s flag flies at half-staff at left. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

By Ron Todt, Marc Scolforo and Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The former fire chief killed at a Pennsylvania rally for Donald Trump spent his final moments diving in front of his family to shield them from gunfire that rang out Saturday in an assassination attempt on the former president.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed Sunday that Corey Comperatore, 50, died a “hero,” using his body as a shield to protect his wife and daughter from bullets.

“His wife told me he threw himself at his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden offered their “deepest condolences” to Comperatore’s family.

“He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired and he lost his life, God bless him. We also pray for the full recovery of those who were injured,” Biden said.

At least two other people were injured in the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The two people were identified as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Both were in stable condition Sunday.

Separately, U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas said in a statement Sunday that his nephew was injured but “fortunately, his injury was not serious.”

“My family was sitting up front, close to where the president was speaking,” Jackson said. “They heard gunshots. My nephew then realized he had blood on his neck and something had grazed and cut him. He was treated by the medics in the medical tent.”

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected gunman, who attacked from a high position outside the rally site.

The former president was showing a chart of border crossing numbers when at least five shots were fired. Trump was seen holding his ear and falling to the ground. Agents quickly created a shield around him. When he got back up, his face bloodied, he raised his fist at his cheering supporters.

Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, called Comperatore “an honest guy” and “a real firefighter brother.” He said Comperatore had been chief of the company for about three years, but he was also a life member, meaning he had served for more than 20 years.

“He was a great guy, always willing to help someone,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He always stood up for what he believed in, he never backed down from anyone. … He was a really good guy.”

A crew was hosed down the facade of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department Sunday with plans to install a memorial wall hanging to honor the slain former chief.

Deputy Chief Ricky Heasley of Sarver, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as a very outgoing and lively man.

“He never had a single bad word,” Heasley said.

And in the front yard of the Comperatores’ two-story home in Butler County, a small memorial had sprung up, consisting of an American flag and small bouquets of flowers.

For Morehouse, Comperatore’s death was a blow, but it was also an inspiration to political action. Morehouse said he plans to vote for the first time in his life in November, and he plans to check Trump’s name.

“As soon as I found out what happened and I found out it was Corey, I ran upstairs as soon as I got home and registered to vote,” Morehouse said. “This is my first time voting and I think it’s going to be a lasting memory for him.”

A GoFundMe collection launched to support Comperatore’s family had already surpassed $480,000 in donations as of Sunday.

Todt reported from Philadelphia and Kruesi from Nashville, Tennessee.

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