Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, a firefighter fatally shot in the city’s blaze. assassination attempt which occurred at last weekend’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, during his speech Thursday evening at the Republican National Convention.
“Tragically, the shooter took the life of one of our fellow Americans, Corey Comperatore, an incredible person, everyone tells me that,” Trump said.
On stage next to Trump were Comperatore’s firefighter helmet and jacket. Trump approached and kissed the helmet before calling for a moment of silence from the convention crowd.
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The 50-year-old comperator was a spectator at Trump’s rally with family members on Saturday when a 20-year-old gunman opens fire Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters that Comperatore “threw himself into his family to protect them,” calling him a “hero,” sentiments echoed by Trump.
“He was incredible, he was a very respected former fire chief,” Trump said. “… He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from bullets. He went right over them and got hit. What a fine man he was.”
Two other participants, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were seriously injured but survived, while Trump was also injured when he said a bullet pierced his right ear.
“I heard a loud whistling sound and I felt something hit me, really hard, in my right ear,” Trump said Thursday. “I thought, ‘Wow, what was that, it has to be a bullet.’ I put my right hand to my ear, I brought it down and my hand was covered in blood.”
Comperatore is survived by a wife and two daughters. In a statement released Thursday, Comperatore’s family called him “a beloved father and husband, and a friend to so many in the Butler area.”
Pennsylvania State Representative Marci Mustello said Comperatore served as fire chief of the Buffalo Township Fire Company, describing him as a “dedicated public servant” and a “true American hero.”
Trump said more than $6 million has been raised for the families of the three shooting victims.
Comperatore’s last name was misspelled on his firefighter jacket. It was missing the “a.” CBS News learned from the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company that this was done intentionally, as there was only enough room on the jacket for a certain number of letters.
