The final moments of 50-year-old father of two, Corey Comperatore, have come to light following the tragic shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Comperatore’s wife, Helen, shared her husband’s heroic last words as he attempted to protect his family from gunfire—a moment that has sparked heartbreak online.
“Pray for the daughters of Corey Comperatore. It is so, so hard to lose your dad at this age.”
Caroline Downey — @carolinedowney_
“Today, I ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in memory and respect of Corey Comperatore, who tragically lost his life shielding his family. Virginia stands in solidarity with all Pennsylvanians and we continue to pray for his family and those who remain in critical condition.”
Governor Glenn Youngkin – @GovernorVA
The incident unfolded on Saturday night when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a rooftop approximately 130 yards away from where former President Donald Trump was standing.
Amidst the chaos, Comperatore’s instinct to protect his loved ones kicked in.
“He’s my hero,” Helen Comperatore told the New York Post. “He just said ‘Get down!’ That was the last thing he said.”
These final words encapsulate the selfless act of a man who put his family’s safety above his own, and many on social media have applauded Corey for his bravery on Saturday.
The Comperatore family, including their children, had attended the rally as a unit, looking forward to a day of family bonding.
Corey, a former volunteer firefighter, had eagerly shared his plans on the social media platform X before the event, as highlighted by Daily Mail.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, President Joe Biden attempted to offer his condolences to the family, but Helen declined to speak with him. She cited her husband’s political beliefs for this decision.
“I don’t talk to Biden,” she stated. “My husband was a devout Republican and he would not have wanted me to talk to him.”
The Post highlighted that despite her refusal, Helen emphasized that she harbors no ill will towards the President.
“I support Trump, that’s who I’m voting for, but I don’t have any ill will towards Biden,” she said. “He didn’t do anything to my husband; a 20-year-old despicable kid did.”
Corey’s sister expressed her grief on Facebook following the tragedy: “The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most. He was a hero who shielded his daughters.”
“His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable. My baby brother just turned 50 and had so much life left to experience,” she wrote.
Corey’s daughter said of her father in a subsequent post: “He died a real-life superhero.”
The shooting also left two other men injured: David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. Both are reported to be in stable condition at local hospitals.
In response to the tragedy and Corey’s death, an outpouring of support has flooded in from across the nation. The Daily Mail reported that an online fundraiser for the Comperatore family has surpassed $1 million, while a Trump-sanctioned GoFundMe campaign has raised over $4 million for all the affected families.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with officials questioning how the gunman managed to set up his position so close to the former president. Trump himself sustained a minor injury to his right ear during the incident but was quickly evacuated from the scene by the Secret Service.
As the community grapples with this shocking event, Helen Comperatore wants America to remember her husband as a “very loving” man who “put his wife and kids first all the time.”