Man Killed at Trump Rally Was Former Pennsylvania Fire Chief Who ‘Died a Hero’

By Julie Carr Smyth, Jill Colvin, Colleen Long, Michael Balsamo, Eric Tucker and Michelle L. Price
Associated Press

BUTLER, Pa. — In the wake of an apparent assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday as shocked leaders across the political spectrum recoiled from the Supreme Court’s ruling. a shooting that left him injured but “doing well”.”

A former fire chief who was attending the rally with his family was killed, as was the shooter. Two other people were also injured.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. His aides said he was in “very good spirits” and doing well.

“I immediately knew something was wrong, I heard a whistling sound, gunshots, and immediately felt the bullet go through the skin,” he wrote on his social media site. “There was a lot of bleeding.”

In a subsequent social media post on Sunday, Trump said that “it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”

“Right now, it is more important than ever that we stand united and show our true character as Americans by remaining strong and determined and not allowing evil to win,” his message said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Sunday identified the rally attendee who was killed as Corey Comperatore, a former chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, and said he “died a hero.”

“His wife told me he dove in to protect his family,” Shapiro said. He declined to comment on the condition of two other people who were injured.

The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the shooting scene. An FBI official said investigators have not yet determined a motive.

Secret Service agents shot and killed Crooks. The gunman attacked from an elevated position outside the rally site at a farm show in Butler, the agency said.

One participant was killed and two spectators were seriously injured, authorities said. All were identified as men.

Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that bomb-making materials were found in the vehicle of the man suspected of taking part in the shooting at the Trump rally. Bomb-making materials were also found at his home. Both officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Investigators believe the gun used by Crooks was purchased by his father at least six months ago, authorities said. Federal agents are still working to figure out when and how his son obtained the gun and to gather additional information about Crooks, authorities said.

Crooks’ political leanings were not immediately clear. Records show Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show he donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on Jan. 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden was sworn in.

Authorities told reporters that Crooks had no identification and were using DNA and other methods to confirm his identity. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation.