Man killed at Trump rally shooting identified and labeled a 'hero'
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump
Kit Roberts
Featured Image Credit: Dawn Schafer/Facebook/Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump
The man who died in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump has been named.
Two people, including the shooter, died after a gunman opened fire at the Republican presidential candidate at a rally in Pennsylvania.
A bullet grazed Trump's ear leaving him bleeding but not seriously injured, before security surrounded him as he ducked beneath the podium.
Trump's campaign later confirmed that he was 'fine', with the former president also confirming that he had been struck in the 'upper right part of [his] right ear'.
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Tragically one person was killed in the attack, and has been named as Corey Comperatore.
Corey was a retired fire chief of Buffalo Township, and was hit by one of the bullets fired during the attempt on Trump's life.
A statement put online by Corey's sister Dawn revealed that he had used his body to shield his family in his final moments, and labelled him a 'hero'.
She wrote: "The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most.
"He was a hero who shielded his daughters."
She added: "His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable.
"My baby brother just turned 50 and had so much life left to experience. Hatred has no limits and love has no bounds."
Governor Josh Shapiro also paid tribute to Corey, telling reporters: "His wife shared with me that he [dived] on his family to protect them."
Shapiro added that Corey was an 'avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community', as per Sky News.
"Political disagreements can never, ever, be addressed through violence." he said.
Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township volunteer fire company, also paid tribute to Corey, saying he was a 'stand-up guy' and a 'true brother of the fire service'.
Two other people were also critically injured during the attack and are currently in hospital.
After the shots were fired, Trump raised his fist and appeared to repeatedly mouth the word 'FIGHT' before he was escorted to a waiting SUV.
In a statement, Trump offered condolences to Corey's and an injured attendee's families, with the statement saying: "Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured."
The suspected shooter, who has been named as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot by the Secret Service, with a statement saying that agents had 'neutralized' the shooter, who is now 'deceased'.
It continued: "US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated."
An investigation has now been launched into the attack.