The upcoming Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, will pay tribute to Corey Comperatore, a retired firefighter who was tragically killed during a previous rally on July 13, 2023.
Comperatore, a resident of Buffalo, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a rooftop near the rally site.
During the initial shots, Trump supporters Jim Copenhaver and David Dutch were critically wounded.
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Comperatore, shielding his family, was struck in the head during a second volley of gunfire.
Despite efforts by a nearby doctor to provide life-saving aid, Comperatore could not be saved.
Comperatore’s fire gear will be displayed in the bleachers at the rally site, where he had been sitting when the attack occurred.
The display will serve as a tribute to his bravery and selflessness.
The rally will also honor first responders and bystanders who were affected by the tragic event.
Former President Donald Trump, who had vowed to return to Butler in Comperatore’s honor, previously paid tribute to the fallen firefighter at the Republican National Convention.
Trump pays homage to Corey Comperatore, the firefighter killed in the wake of Trump’s assassination attempt. pic.twitter.com/UkHDrma4EA
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) July 19, 2024
During the event, Comperatore’s firefighting gear was displayed prominently on stage, and Trump paused his speech to kiss the slain supporter’s helmet.
On Saturday, thousands of Trump supporters gathered at the rally site ahead of the former president’s arrival.
THIS IS THE LINE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP RETURN TO BUTLER PENNSYLVANIA.
THE RALLY DOES NOT START TILL 5 PM…
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) October 5, 2024
Enhanced security measures have been put in place, including a counter-sniper positioned on the rooftop from which Crooks fired and bulletproof glass shielding the podium where Trump will speak.
Tributes to Comperatore are visible throughout the rally grounds, with his firefighting gear flanked by flowers in the bleachers behind the podium.
A seat is saved for Corey Comperatore at the rally in Butler, PA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/eHIt3iyy6Z
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 5, 2024
These tributes will remain on display during the event, commemorating his heroic actions.
“He definitely was a hero,” said Comperatore’s widow, Helen, in an interview with WTAE. “He saved his wife, he saved his child, and he was just the best guy. He was just the best.”
Helen Comperatore urged people to remember her husband not for how he died, but for the person he was. “He was a great man, a great father, and a great husband,” she said.
The Comperatore family will be in attendance at Saturday’s rally, where Corey’s legacy as a hero and devoted family man will be honored.
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