Dramatic turn of events in the death of firefighter Corey Comperatore at a Trump rally

FREEPORT, Pa. — The firefighter who was killed while shielding his family from a sniper’s bullets at former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally wasn’t even supposed to be sitting in the seat that put him in the line of fire, a grieving friend said.

Corey Comperatore, 50, took his place in the front row moments before the presidential candidate spoke — and before a deranged gunman launched a deadly attack that shocked the nation.

“It’s a really freak accident. He wasn’t even supposed to be sitting there and he ended up losing his life,” Scott Dockherty, CEO of the manufacturing company CID Associates, where Comperatore’s brother worked, said Thursday.

Dockherty revealed the tragic turn of events outside Comperatore’s wake at Laube Hall in Freeport, where hundreds of mourners paid their respects.

A companion rushed to throw his wife and two daughters to the ground as Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots, his heartbroken widow, Helen, previously told the Post.

“You realize Corey and his family weren’t even supposed to be sitting in those seats,” Dockherty told reporters, citing a conversation he had with Compertore’s brother, Steve.

The Comperatores stood to the left of the stage just before Trump spoke — until someone offered the family of four front-row tickets, a no-brainer for the Trump superfan.

“So Corey said, ‘Yeah, I’d love to do that,’” Dockherty said.

Trump had only been speaking for a few minutes when Crooks opened fire, grazing the former president in the ear.

Comperatore was killed and two others were injured: David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 54, who were seriously injured but are expected to recover.

Trump, meanwhile, was grazed in the ear.

Secret Service agents quickly returned fire, killing Crooks just seconds after the chaos began.

Investigators are still combing through the suspected killer’s devices to find a motive.

“It’s heartbreaking. A man lost his life because of hate in this country. It’s terrible… The world needs to change and it needs to change fast. It’s sad,” Dockherty said.

“Hatred is terrible.”

Comperatore served as chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company for a few years in the early 2000s before reducing his role to focus on his family.

He remained an active firefighter and member of his community until his tragic death at the Butler Farm Showgrounds.

Comperatore was about to celebrate his 29th wedding anniversary with his wife, Helen.

The couple had been in love since childhood.

“He was a simple man, but he always put his wife and children first. I didn’t do anything here. I didn’t lift a finger. He did everything,” Helen told the Post.