By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
BUTLER, Pa. — A fundraiser benefiting the family of a former fire chief who died while attending a rally for former President Donald Trump has surpassed its goal.
Corey Comperatore, a former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company chief, died on July 13 during an assassination attempt on the former president, the Associated Press reports.
Former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company chief Corey Comperatore “died a hero” when he “dove on his family to protect them,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said
A GoFundMe set up to support Comperatore’s family has raised more than $1 million, surpassing its goal of $7,000. More than 18,000 people have donated to the fundraiser since it was set up on Sunday morning.
Comperatore died while shielding his loved ones from the bullets.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Comperatore’s wife, Helen Comperatore, wanted everyone to know that her husband died a hero.
“Corey dove on his family to protect them last night at this rally,” Shapiro said during a press conference. “Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing.”
His loved ones recalled his heroic last moments in social media posts.
“He shielded my body from the bullet that came at us,” one daughter, Allyson Comperatore, wrote in a social media post. “He loved his family. He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us.”
Randy Reamer, the president of the Buffalo Township volunteer fire company, told the Associated Press that Comperatore was “a stand-up guy” and “a true brother of the fire service.” Reamer mentioned that Comperatore had served as the company’s chief for approximately 3 years and was also a life member.
If you are working an event where nobody is taking the possibility of violence seriously, don’t let their attitude change your level of awareness and preparation
“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone … He was a really good guy.”
Shapiro said two other rally attendees were also critically injured in the shooting.
The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to the Associated Press. An FBI official said investigators had not yet determined a motive.
The Trump rally shooting demonstrated commendable actions like quick thinking by citizens, as well as shortcomings such as poor site selection and training gaps
Effective presidential protection relies on more than just federal efforts. Learn how local officers can contribute, stay informed and maintain crucial roles
The death of a firefighter attendee and the wounding of three others, including former President Trump, is a tragic reminder of gunshot wound assessment and treatment challenges
For anyone protecting major events, the known threats are easy to track, but the unknowns manifest in blind spots that can cause unwanted surprises
Host cities for the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2026 like Atlanta are leveraging federal, state and local partnerships to strengthen riot control units, foster technology collaboration and implement joint intelligence gathering
Highlighting the importance of PACE planning in addressing potential security threats, crowd management issues and emergency responses for large gatherings
“I was standing right in front of Union Station, just to the west of the stage, when I heard shots fired.”
Police and fire agencies worked together to prepare and care for a major ski event
Highly detailed maps help illustrate likely areas of vulnerability in and around venues
La Crosse police work hard to keep the peace during Octoberfest, and this year, a perimeter protection plan was introduced to prevent a Waukesha-style attack
