Josh Shapiro remembers father who died shielding family at Trump rally as “hero”

Gov. Josh Shapiro called the father who died during the Trump rally in Western Pa. on Saturday a “hero.” Corey Comperatore was fatally wounded while he was shielding his family from gunshots. 

Gov. Josh Shapiro offered condolences Sunday for the family of Corey Comperatore, who was killed during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler Saturday.. 

Comperatore, 50, was a Buffalo Township volunteer firefighter. He died Saturday shielding his family as 20-year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park,, opened fire on Trump from on top of a barn a few hundred feet behind the stage. Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents.

“Corey was a girl dad, Corey was a firefighter, Corey went to church every Sunday, Corey loved his community and most especially, Corey loved his family,” Shapiro said.  “Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community.”

Shapiro then went on to say that Comperatore’s wife asked that he share her late husband’s heroics. 

“She also asked that I share with all of you that Corey died a hero; that Corey dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said. “Last night at this rally, Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing.”

Shapiro called the assassination attempt “absolutely unacceptable” and “tragic.” The shooting left two other Pennsylvania residents critically wounded. 

Shapiro was asked about Crooks making it onto the roof of the barn behind the stage and about items found in the suspects car, but refused to answer questions due to the ongoing investigations. 

“My message to all Pennsylvanians, my message to all Americans is to be firm in your beliefs, to believe what you believe, to advocate for what you believe, and to be engaged in the political and civic process, but to always do so peacefully to remember that while we may be Democrats or Republicans, above all else, we are Americans,” Shapiro said.