Hundreds attend vigil for man killed at Trump rally in Pennsylvania before visit on Thursday

SARVER, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered to remember the former fire chief who died in a Weekend rally for former President Donald Trump were urged to find “unity” as the area in rural Pennsylvania tried to recover from the attack.

Wednesday’s public event was the first of two to honor and recognize Corey Comperatore’s life. The second, a visitation for friends, was planned for Thursday at Laube Hall in Freeport.

Outside the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, where the vigil for Comperatore was held, a sign read, “Rest in Peace, Corey, Thank you for your service” and featured the logo of his fire department.

On the country road to the race track – lined with cornfields, churches and industrial plants – a sign outside a local credit union read: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Comperatore family.”

Comperatore, 50, had worked as a project and tool engineer, was an Army reservist and spent many years as a volunteer firefighter after serving as chief, according to his obituary.

He died on Saturday during the Attack on Trump at the rally in Butler. Comperatore spent the last moments of his life protecting his wife and daughter from gunfire, officials said.

In a statement released Thursday, Comperatore’s family described him as “our beloved father and husband and a friend to so many people throughout the Butler area.”

“Our family finds comfort and peace in the heartfelt messages of encouragement from people around the world, in the support of our church and community, and most of all in the power of God,” the statement said.

Vigil organizer Kelly McCollough told the crowd Wednesday that the event was not political in nature, adding that there was no room for hate or personal opinions, just an outpouring of support for the Comperatore family.

“Tonight is about unity,” McCollough said. “We need each other. We need to feel love. We need to feel safe. We need clarity in this chaos. We need strength. We need healing.”

Dan Ritter, who delivered the eulogy, said he bought Comperatore’s childhood home in 1993, starting a friendship that grew on shared values ​​in family, Christian faith and politics.

“Corey loved his family and always spent time with them,” Ritter said. “Last Saturday was supposed to be one of those days for him. He did what a good father would do. He protected those he loved. He is a true hero to all of us.”

Jeff Lowers of the Freeport Fire Department trained with Comperatore and said at the vigil that he always had a smile on his face.

Afterwards, Heidi Powell, a family friend, read a speech from Comperatore’s high school economics teacher, who was unable to attend the vigil.

“What made Corey truly extraordinary was his indomitable spirit, his unwavering courage and his unwavering optimism,” wrote teacher Mark Wyant.

Comperatore’s Rev. Jonathan Fehl of Cabot Methodist Church in Cabot said the family was “overwhelmed by the way the community has rallied around them” and by the support they have received from people around the world.

The vigil ended with people in the crowd lighting candles and holding up cell phones, glow sticks and lighters while Comperatore’s favorite song, “I Can Only Imagine,” by Christian rock band MercyMe, played and pictures of him and his family were shown on a screen.

Two other people were injured at the rally: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township. Both were listed in serious but stable condition Wednesday evening, according to an Allegheny Health Network spokesperson.

In a statement, Dutch’s family thanked the “community of western Pennsylvania and countless others across the country and around the world” for the incredible outpouring of prayers and well wishes.

Trump suffered an ear injury However, he was not seriously injured and attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week.

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Associated Press reporters Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed.