The beloved Pennsylvania father who died trying to protect his family during Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump seemed to be looking forward to the rally in his final social media posts.
Corey Comperatore, 50, was proud to attend Trump’s outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night as part of his weekend plans.
“So what’s everyone going to do this weekend?” asked a popular pro-Trump X-account known to fans as “Catturd.”
“Trump Rally! Butler, Pennsylvania” Comperatore Responded That was at 7:25 a.m., just hours before he was fatally shot.
Comperatore’s final post had been viewed more than 3.3 million times as of early Monday morning.
The former Buffalo Township volunteer fire chief was shot and killed by suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, at a President Trump rally, which also injured the former president and two others.
Comperatore’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, said her brother’s last act on earth was trying to protect his daughter when gunshots rang out during Trump’s speech.
“Hatred towards one man took the life of the man we loved most. He was a hero who protected his daughters,” she wrote on Facebook.
Her brave father’s daughter Allison said her father quickly threw him to the ground in an attempt to protect her and her mother.
“He took a real bullet for us because he loved us so much,” Allison wrote on Facebook. “I just want to cry for him and say thank you.”
His wife, Helen, a devoted family man, echoed the loving words of their daughter, who described the former fire chief as a “real-life superhero” who protected them.
“yesterday, [was meant to] “What should have been a very exciting day, especially for my husband, has turned into a nightmare for our family,” Helen wrote on Facebook.
Kip Johnston, the Buffalo Township Fire Department’s fire chief for 43 years, said Sunday that his former colleagues’ selfless actions show how much he cared about his family.
Johnston described Comperatore as “a great leader, a great family man and a good friend” who retired as chief in the early 2000s to spend time with his two daughters.
Following his death, people have been taking to the comments section to pay tribute to the father of two.
“Rest in peace HERO,” popular TikTok X account Libs wrote in response.
“May God welcome you into his home and give your family strength and peace,” another commented.
“The manly thing to do is protect your family and be a leader. Corey, you’ve done that. God bless you,” another user replied.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff in honor of Comperatore and his final act of bravery.
“Corey died a hero,” Shapiro said. “Corey was the best of us.”
The Pennsylvania governor described Comperatore as a “staunch supporter” of former President Trump.
The two rally participants injured in Saturday’s assassination attempt are in stable condition and have been identified as David Duch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township.
Crooks was stationed on a rooftop near Trump’s rally and fired multiple shots at the former president and rally attendees before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
An AR-type rifle was found at the scene, with records indicating the gun had been purchased by the gunman’s father.
Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting.
