Sniper Victim at Trump Rally Identified, Died Shielding His Family

Elise McCue /

The man who was shot and killed during the assassination attempt on Donald Trump has been identified as former fire chief Corey Comperatore.

The Associated Press reports former fire chief’s wife told Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro that Comperatore “dove on his family to protect them.”

“Corey was a girl dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community. Most especially, Corey loved his family,” Shapiro said, according to CNN.

“Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community.”

Shapiro, a Democrat, also said, “I asked Corey’s wife if it would be okay for me to share that we spoke. She said ‘yes.’ She also asked that I share with all of you that Corey died a hero.”

“Corey dove on his family to protect them last night at this rally.”

“The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most,” Comperatore’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, said on Facebook, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

“He was a hero that 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.”

Randy Reamer, who served with Comperatore on the Buffalo township volunteer fire company, called him a “really good guy.”

“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out,” Reamer said, according to the Associated Press. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone.”

An eyewitness told BBC that he warned police about the gunman but was ignored. This video has since gone viral. The director of the U.S. Secret Service is facing questions about the conditions that allowed for this shooting to happen.