Rubio Pays Tribute to ‘Hero’ Slain by Sniper at Trump Rally

Fred Lucas /

Sen. Marco Rubio paid tribute to the former fire chief killed Saturday afternoon in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in remarks Tuesday at the Republican National Convention.  

Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in Buffalo Township in Pennsylvania, was killed at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was attending the rally with his family. A bullet grazed Trump’s right ear. 

Comperatore was the father of two daughters and a vocal supporter of Trump.

“He was a former fire chief, a loving husband. He was described as the best dad a girl could ever ask for,” Rubio said in Milwaukee at the quadrennial GOP convention. 

“As a man of God who loved Jesus fiercely, and looked after members of his church, Cory was one of the millions of everyday Americans who make our country great,” the Florida senator continued. “He wasn’t rich. He wasn’t famous. The only reason we know his name and story now is because, last Saturday, he shielded his wife and daughter from an assassin’s bullet, and lost his life the way he lived it: A hero.”

Rubio was reportedly a finalist to be Trump’s vice presidential running mate. However, Trump announced Monday that he had instead chosen one of Rubio’s Senate Republican colleagues, JD Vance of Ohio.