Former fire chief who died at Trump rally used his body to protect his family from gunfire

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The former fire chief killed at a rally for Donald Trump in Pennsylvania spent his final moments jumping into the depths in front of his family, shielding them from the gunfire that rang out Saturday during a attack against the former president.

Corey Comperatore’s quick decision to use his body as a shield against the bullets flying toward his wife and daughter was well received by close friends and neighbors who loved and respected the proud 50-year-old Trump supporter, who pointed out that the Butler County resident was a “man of conviction.”

“He is a hero in every sense of the word. He pushed his family out of the way and was killed for them,” said Mike Morehouse, who lived next door to Comperatore for the past eight years. “He is a hero and I was happy to have him as a neighbor.”

Comperatore died Saturday in an attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. At least two other people were injured: 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.

As messages of support for Comperatore’s family poured in from across the country, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden also expressed their “deepest condolences.”

“He was a father. He protected his family from the bullets that were fired and he lost his life, God bless him,” Biden said, adding that he was praying for the full recovery of those injured.

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

“My family was sitting up front, near where the president was speaking,” Jackson said. “They heard gunshots – then my nephew noticed he had blood on his neck and something had grazed and cut his neck. He was being treated by the nurses in the medical tent.”

The Secret Service said it had suspected shooter, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally area.

The former president was showing a table with figures on border crossings when at least five shots were fired. Trump held his ear and knelt on the ground. Agents quickly crowded around him in a riot shield. As he stood up, his face covered in blood, he clenched his fist in front of his cheering supporters as he was led off the stage by Secret Service agents.

Trump later expressed his condolences to Comperatore’s family.

Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, called Comperatore an “honorable guy” and a “true brother to the fire department.” He said Comperatore was chief of the fire department for about three years, but was also a life member, meaning he served more than 20 years.

“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help somebody,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in and never gave in to anybody. … He was a really good guy.”

A crew was busy on Sunday cleaning the facade of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department with a pressure washer and installing memorial curtains in honor of the murdered former chief.

Sarver Deputy Police Chief Ricky Heasley, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as a very outgoing and fun-loving person.

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

And in the front yard of the Comperatores’ two-story home in Butler County, a small memorial with a U.S. flag and small bouquets of flowers had been created.

For Morehouse, Comperatore’s death was an emotional blow – but it also inspired him to take political action. Morehouse says he plans to vote for the first time in his life in November and check Trump’s name.

“When I heard what happened and then learned it was Corey, I immediately went home and registered to vote,” Morehouse said. “This is the first time I’ve voted and I think it will stay with him.”

A GoFundMe The campaign launched to support the Comperatore family had already exceeded the $696,000 mark in donations by Sunday.

___ Todt reported from Philadelphia and Kruesi from Nashville, Tennessee.