Man Killed at Trump Rally Died Protecting Family; Neighbors Tell Stories of Two Others Wounded

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Bystander killed by sniper opened fire at a rally For former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, he was a beloved family man and dad who served his community with “quiet resilience,” his loved ones said Monday.

Corey D. Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, raised two daughters with his high school sweetheart while working as a project and tooling engineer. He also spent a decade as an Army reservist and many years as a volunteer firefighter, where he also served for a time as chief, according to his obituary.

“His courage was not loud and flashy; it was the courage of quiet resilience,” the tribute reads. “Corey’s legacy is not just the big milestones he achieved, but also the small acts of kindness that marked his daily life.”

Comperatore died Saturday in an assassination attempt on Trump at the Butler rally that left the former president bloodied from an ear wound. Comperatore spent his final moments protect his family from gunfire before he was killed, Gov. Josh Shapiro said.

Two other people injured in the attack remained hospitalized Monday in critical but stable condition, according to an Allegheny General Hospital spokesman. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, is a former Marine who spent decades working as a machinist at Siemens USA. James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, had retired from managing a Pennsylvania liquor store.

Dutch served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during his Marine Corps service from 1986 to 1992, earning several medals, including one for combat. Most recently, he served as commander of the local chapter of the Marine Corps League, a fraternal group.

A relative reached by phone Monday said the family did not want to discuss his condition.

“Please pray for the victims and for Mr. Trump,” said the relative, who hung up before giving his full name.

A former neighbor said that like most people on the street, Dutch took care of his family, pets and belongings while working to make ends meet. He sometimes complained about the government, he said, but no more than anyone else.

“Everyone was too busy trying to keep their heads above water. He was no different than anyone else,” said Chris Race, who said he lived next door to Dutch for about a decade.

“There wasn’t a 10-foot American flag flying over his house,” he said. “He was a regular citizen, a former Marine. He just cared about his country like everybody else. He just got caught in a bad situation, it seems.”

Copenhaver became more interested in local issues about three years ago, when he joined his neighbors in voicing concerns about a proposed housing development on the road, according to Moon Township supervisor and friend Albert Quaye.

Once the problem was resolved, people eventually moved away – but not Copenhagen, which has faithfully attended town meetings ever since.

“He loved local politics. He started getting interested in it,” Quaye said. “There were times when he was the only one there and we’d ask him, ‘Jim, what do you think?’”

Eventually, Copenhaver was chosen to serve on the township’s military banner committee. Quaye said Copenhaver’s son is an Air Force officer, married and has several grandchildren.

“He is 74 years old and in good health,” Quaye said.

Mike Joos, who was president of the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department when Comperatore was chief, said he led his colleagues into burning buildings — and they followed him, knowing they could trust him.

“It takes a certain kind of person,” Joos said.

Natalie Thimons, a high school classmate, said neither Comperatore nor his wife have ever dated anyone else. Their daughters are now in their 20s.

“I don’t think you can find anyone who can say a bad thing about them,” said Thimons, 50, of Brackenridge. “He loved and adored his daughters. They were his life.”

___ Dale reported from Philadelphia, Hollingsworth from Mission, Kansas, and Rubinkam from northeastern Pennsylvania.