Pennsylvania Governor Says Former Fire Chief Was Killed In Trump Assassination Attempt

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said Sunday that Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief for Buffalo Township, was shot and killed during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler the previous evening.

Shapiro said in a news conference that Comperatore’s wife told him Comperatore, a father of two daughters, dove on his family to protect them when shots were fired. Shapiro said Comperatore, 50, “died a hero.” A GoFundMe has been set up for one of his daughters.

The gunman ― whom the FBI identified as Thomas Crooks, 20 ― fired multiple shots from an “elevated position” outside the venue where Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, was speaking at a campaign rally, authorities said. Comperatore was killed and several more people were wounded, including the former president.

Shapiro called the assassination attempt on Trump “unacceptable and tragic.”

“Last night was shocking for this community, for this commonwealth, and I know for this country,” Shapiro said. “Political disagreements can never, ever be addressed through violence. Disagreements are OK, but we need to use a peaceful political process to settle those differences.”

Secret Service personnel reportedly killed Crooks on the scene. Trump sustained an injury to his ear and was rushed off stage to a hospital. He later posted on Truth Social that he still intends to travel to Milwaukee, the site of the upcoming Republican National Convention, Sunday afternoon.