Thousands celebrate life of former fire chief killed at Trump rally

Thousands of mourners paid their respects at a Pennsylvania banquet hall Thursday to the family of a former fire chief who was shot and killed during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

Trump sent a note of condolence hailing Corey Comperatore as a hero, a copy of which was displayed at the visitation. He did not attend the memorial, which was the second of two public events memorializing and celebrating Comperatore’s life. Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday at a vigil for him at an auto racing track.

A private funeral is scheduled for Friday. Trump is not going to the funeral because of Secret Service concerns, according to a source familiar who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The crowd on Thursday appeared to be a mix of friends, neighbors and strangers who wanted to show their appreciation for the man who officials said spent his final moments shielding his wife and daughter from gunfire at the campaign rally.

Fire trucks and police vehicles filled the parking lot outside the building. Sharpshooters were positioned on top of the event hall and on nearby buildings as people including firefighters in dress uniforms, waited in line to enter.

Comperatore, 50, worked as a project and tooling engineer, was an Army reservist and spent many years as a volunteer firefighter after serving as chief, according to his obituary.

Trump suffered an ear injury but was not seriously hurt and has been participating this week in the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Trump honored Comperatore during his speech Thursday night accepting the party’s presidential nomination, displaying his firefighting gear on the convention stage, kissing his helmet and heralding the ex-chief as “an unbelievable person.”

Trump said a fund for Comperatore’s family and the two men wounded in the attack has raised more than $6 million.

[donnaryan]

My heart is heavy and would like to send and all my Prayers today to this Firefighters Family, and friends. This is a solemn day. And was So unnecessary. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏🙏💜💜💜😇

[caw]

Praying for the families and America. RIP 💖🙏🇺🇸

[gloriakovacevic]

this is too sad... sending love and prayers to the family.🥺

[rustbeltwilds]

Prayers for the family..hope they find peace.

[lindabradford]

My sincere condolences to the Comperatore family, the Butler Fire Department and friends of Corey Comperatore. RIP, Fire Chief Comperatore. 😢

[xyndy]

It is sad. Hope his family can get through this.

[ladyJ_]

Our heartfelt condolences to the family, this man was a true hero in life until his last breath. May God give you comfort and healing, such a tragedy.

[debbiesims]

My deepest condolences to the family of the man who was shot. 💔

[marilynneil]

What a send off Corey!
RIP.
Prayers to family and friends.

[roxanneharris]

May he rest in peace. Condolences to his family. Pennsylvania fire fighters really have a nice way of showing respect to the lost fire fighter. I lost my brother 3yrs ago he also was a firemen and a biker. Ceremony was beautifully done. May GOD give this family strength during this difficult time. 🙏

[SandraBlanton-vnmh]

No family should have to go through this. My heart breaks for this family. Everything we believe in is threatened. America must rise from the ashes. God bless this family and America.

[thomasjess]

As a Lt. Ff/EMT of 28 years....He is in my heart today. All my prayers go to his wife and children in this time of sorrow. He is a True American hero giving his life protecting his family!!
GOD BLESS YOU DC!! (DeptChf)

[touka]

Condolences to the family from Melbourne australia

[amandajones]

Condolences to the family. Very sad what happened. From South Africa 🇿🇦

[LauraMiller]

The silence is so beautiful here. It lets you feel deeply the crippling pain of the Comperatore family who lost so much of their everything.  
At the same time, you almost feel guilty for feeling joy, gratitude and relief that President Trump survived.
The silence in this video lets you think it all through, and now that you've heard what kind of man he was, you give yourself grace to feel comfort above all else, that Corey Comperatore would have felt the exact same way I'm feeling watching it in silence.
I picture him up there, him and Jesus sitting on the edge of a cloud, both of them wearing MAGA hats.. looking down here and he's feeling so blessed, seeing nothing but love rising up from all the grief in their view.
Times like these can really make me struggle with my faith.. wondering why a good God's plan would allow so much pain and suffering.
It must be an incredible plan.. that's all I can figure, and I want to see it through. That's what makes me keep hanging on, I guess.

[patriciaroberts]

I am so very sorry for the loss of this precious soul. 💔 My condolences to the family, friends, firefighter brotherhood, and his community. Please know I will be praying for you all during this time of mourning... 🇺🇲 💙 ✝️🙏🕊️

[CLOUD-zw]

It's not about trump. It's about his service to The Nation. Regardless of political party or color. He served all.
R I.P.

[donnariggs]

Absolutely heart wrenching for this to happen to this family. Condolences and God Speed.

[nataliesewell]

R.I.P Corey😭. Huge hugs and much love to your family and friends ❤🇦🇺

[allyp]

So sad rip thoughts with his family sending love from the uk 💔❤️