Corey Comperatore, a husband, father and volunteer firefighter who was killed at former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was honored at a funeral on Friday, July 19. Comperatore was shot and killed in the crowd at Trump’s rally when a rooftop gunman fired several shots, grazing Trump’s ear and striking two other people.
Comperatore was shielding his wife and family, protecting them from the bullets when he was hit. The two other wounded remain hospitalized.
Mourners gathered at Comperatore’s church in western Pennsylvania to say their goodbyes to the father of two. Services were followed by a procession of hundreds of trucks that traveled from the church to the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, where Comperatore served as a volunteer firefighter for his community.
During his RNC speech Thursday night, Trump honored Comperatore’s life and dedication to service.
“He lost his life, selflessly. Acting like a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. He went right over the top of them and was hit. What a fine man he was,” Trump said before embracing Comperatore’s fire jacket and kissing his helmet.
The tribute quickly sparked debate online as people pointed out Comperatore’s name was spelled incorrectly on the fire jacket, with some blaming Trump.
The jacket was missing the “a” in the name. However, there was a reason for that, according to the fire company.
In response to a commenter on Facebook, the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company said the misspelling was intentional.
“The spelling on his jacket was in error years ago and it was left that way by Corey,” the department stated. “Corey did not change it and we will keep it as it was. I understand it may seem confusing but that was Corey’s choice to change it and he didn’t.”
NBC Philadelphia reported that Trump did not attend the funeral on Friday, citing Secret Service concerns. However, the former president did send a condolence note to the family that was put on display during the service.
Comperatore’s wife, Helen, said on social media that she spoke to Trump on the phone.
The shooting remains under investigation.
