‘A real-life super hero’: Retired fire chief Corey Comperatore killed by would-be assassin at Trump rally, took bullet to save wife, daughter

Comperatore, a retired fire chief of Buffalo Township, was sitting behind the former president when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, striking Trump and his supporters in the crowd. Members of the audience attempted to save Comperatore's life, but it was too late.

Allyson Comperatore, his daughter, attended the rally with her parents, issued a heartfelt tribute on Sunday to Comperatore on Facebook and wrote: "What was supposed to be an exciting day we all looked forward to (especially my dad), turned into the most traumatizing experiences someone could imagine."

"He was the best dad a girl could ask for," she continued. "He was a man of God, loved Jesus fiercely, and also looked after our church and our members as family."

"The media will not tell you that he died a real-life super hero. They are not going to tell you how quickly he threw my mom and I to the ground. They are not going to tell you that he shielded my body from the bullet that came at us," she said. "He loved his family. He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us. And I want nothing more than to cry on him and tell him thank you."

Before the rally, Corey Comperatore responded to a post from conservative X account Catturd who asked what his followers had planned for the day. Comperatore wrote: "Trump rally! Butler, PA."

The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel, Pennsylvania. Snipers neutralized Crooks after he shot at Trump. Crooks was on top of a roof about 130 yards from the stage. His attack killed Comperatore and left others wounded.

Former President Trump was ushered off the stage by Secret Service agents and transported to a local hospital. He suffered a gunshot wound to his right ear and is expected to make a full recovery. Trump issued heartfelt condolences to his supporters who were injured during the assassination attempt and a donation site has been set up for the victims on the former president's behalf.

"There are a lot of children out there that say their dad is their hero, but my dad really is mine," said Allyson. "I don't think I would be here today without him."