Donald Trump assassination attempt: Who was the bystander killed while protecting his family?

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday left one person dead: Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father of two who had just turned 50. “We lost a fellow Pennsylvanian last night, Corey Comperatore. I just spoke with his wife and two children,” state Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed at a news conference on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Comperatore’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, had already posted a tribute on her Facebook account. “Mr. Trump’s rally took my brother’s life,” she wrote, “hatred toward one man took the life of the one we loved most.” According to Dawn Comperatore Schafer, her brother died “protecting his daughters.” “His wife and daughters just experienced the unthinkable, the unimaginable,” she wrote.

Corey Comperatore ‘died a hero,’ governor says

Gov. Josh Shapiro said Corey Comperatore “died a hero.” “He dove in to protect his family last night at that rally. He was the best of us, may his memory be a blessing,” the Democrat said, announcing that flags would be lowered to half-staff across the state in honor of the victim. Two other spectators were also seriously injured by the gunman, who was shot and killed, authorities said.

On Saturday, a witness told NBC News that he saw a man being shot in the head and dying instantly, alongside his family. “We heard several gunshots, the man next to me was shot in the head, he died instantly and fell to the foot of the bleacher,” said Joseph, whose last name was not given. “Corey was a big supporter of former President” Donald Trump, and he was “very happy to be with him last night,” the Pennsylvania governor said.

When asked “what do you have planned for this weekend?” by an account he followed on the social network X on Friday, Corey Comperatore responded: “Trump meeting! Butler, Pennsylvania.” This is his last message on the social network. A fundraising page on the Gofundme site was created after Corey Comperatore’s death to support the victim’s family. It had raised more than $180,000 as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday.