Following the shocking shooting at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, new information has come to light about the victims and the events surrounding the tragic incident.
During an apparent attempt on Trump’s life, one rally attendee lost their life, and two others sustained injuries.
The individuals injured in the shooting have been identified as 57-year-old David Dutch from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and 74-year-old James Copenhaver from Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Reports from the Pennsylvania State Police indicate that both victims have been upgraded from critical to stable condition.
The FBI has revealed that the alleged shooter was 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper at the scene. The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt on Trump, who suffered an injury to his right ear.
Additionally, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro shared a personal account of the victim who lost their life. Shapiro disclosed that the deceased individual was Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter from Sarver, Pennsylvania, who heroically shielded his daughters during the attack.
Shapiro praised Comperatore for his bravery, calling him “the very best of us.” Comperatore, an ardent supporter of Trump, had served as the chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department and left behind a wife and two children.
In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Comperatore’s daughter, Allyson, which has already raised over $420,000 surpassing the initial $7,000 target.
Another GoFundMe initiative has been created to aid the other victims and their families. Trump’s adviser Meredith O’Rourke, the national finance director for his 2024 campaign, set up the fundraiser, which has exceeded $2 million, surpassing the $1 million goal.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his appreciation for the swift response of the United States Secret Service and law enforcement and extended his condolences to the victims’ families.
Coming just ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to secure the party’s presidential nomination, this incident has sparked concerns about rally security and the potential for violence in the current politically divided climate.
As investigations unfold, many details about the shooting remain ambiguous, including the gunman’s motive, how security measures were breached, and whether any warning signs were overlooked. These are all aspects that investigators will be examining in the upcoming weeks.