Trump rally shooting: What we know about the victims
Chaos erupted during a rally held by former President Donald Trump after a shooter attempted to assassinate him on Saturday.
Trump was wounded but "fine" following the shooting, but one attendee of the rally was killed and two spectators were critically wounded, according to authorities. All of the victims were men.
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FILE - A screen grab captured from a video shows Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump appears to be injured after gunshots were reported as he is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pa. (Trump Campaign Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Here’s what we know so far about the victims:
Former fire chief was killed
Family members of the victim killed during the rally and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro identified him as Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief for the Buffalo Township.
"Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night," the governor said.
Shapiro declined to discuss the conditions of the two others hurt in the shooting.
The governor also ordered flags to be flown at half staff in Comperatore’s honor.
The victim's sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, wrote in a Facebook post that Corey "was a hero that shielded his daughters."
"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. Pray for my sister-in-law, nieces, my mother, sister, me and his nieces and nephews as this feels like a terrible nightmare but we know it is our painful reality," Schafer wrote.
A private funeral will be held for Comperatore after an event for friends to celebrate his life and pay respects Thursday in Freeport, Pennsylvania.
Trump has extended his condolences to Comperatore’s family and said he planned to attend the services, however, the Secret Service told the former president that he was not allowed.
Fox News confirmed that Trump had wanted to attend the public viewing for Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who shielded his family from flying bullets during a Trump rally on Saturday and ultimately died.
But the Secret Service told Trump not to attend the wake due to an inability to secure the densely wooded area nearby.
On Thursday, firefighters and a procession of law enforcement vehicles accompanied the casket of 50-year-old Comperatore.
Uniformed military personnel were seen securing a perimeter around Laube Hall in Freeport on Thursday morning, checking the roof and surroundings of the building ahead of a vigil for Comperatore.
Thursday's public viewing, scheduled to take place between 2 and 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m., caused road closures for the large preceding fire truck procession.
Critically wounded victims
The Pennsylvania State Police have released the names of the additional victims who were hurt at Saturday's rally.
David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township are currently recovering in a hospital.
"These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today," Colonel Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner said in a news release. "The Pennsylvania State Police continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state and local partners as this investigation continues."
Governor Shapiro has ordered United States and Commonwealth flags to be flown at half-staff immediately in honor of Corey Comperatore, the spectator who was killed while protecting his family.
Copenhaver, 74, is still hospitalized but was recently upgraded from critical to serious condition after he was wounded by gunfire at Trump's rally in Butler.
"The events that transpired on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the rally were tragic and completely unnecessary. No person should be fearful to express their support for a candidate or attend an event," Copenhaver said. "My unwavering support for President Trump will continue and I am happy and unafraid to support him on his way to becoming the 47th President of the United States of America."
Trump spoke with Copenhaver’s family, as well, and once up to it, Copenhaver looks forward to speaking with the former president.
GoFundMe launched for victims raised more than $1 million so far
A GoFundMe account that was created by the Trump campaign less than a day ago has already hit its goal of $1 million to help support the victims of the rally shooting that left one dead and two critically wounded.
The fund's page said it’s "a place for donations to the supporters and families wounded or killed" in Saturday’s apparent assassination attempt.
Who was the shooter?
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel, Pennsylvania, was identified as the shooter in an apparent assassination attempt of Trump on Saturday.
Crooks was shot and killed by Secret Service following the shooting.
Crooks was a registered Republican, according to voting records, but had only participated in the Nov. 8, 2022, state election due to his age. The day Joe Biden was inaugurated, records show, he made a $15 donation to Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee that supports Democrat candidates for public office and claims to advocate for "key Democratic constituencies: young people, minorities and low-income people."
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, FOX News reported. He was one of nearly two dozen students from the school to earn a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.
A search by Fox News Digital revealed Crooks would have turned 21 years old this September. He had no reported criminal or traffic citations and no reported bankruptcies, liens or foreclosures.
An FBI official said investigators had not yet determined a motive.
Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks. The gunman attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue at a farm show in Butler, the agency said.
Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle of the man suspected in the Trump rally shooting. There were also bomb-making materials found at his home. The two officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Investigators believe the weapon Crooks used was purchased by his father at least six months ago, the law enforcement officials said. Federal agents were still working to understand when and how his son obtained the gun and to gather additional information about Crooks, according to the officials.
What happened?
During a rally held on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, a shooter, later identified as Crooks, appeared to attempt to assassinate former President Trump.
In a livestreamed video of the rally, Trump could be seen speaking just moments before a few popping noises were heard. The former president said "Oh" band raised his hand to his right ear and looked at it before hitting the ground and taking cover behind his lectern.
The people in the stands behind him also crouched as screams rang through the crowd.
Secret Service agents surrounded Trump after more shots were fired. Live microphones picked up the Secret Service agents' comments as they moved the former president to safety: "Shooter is down!" "Are you ready! On you! Move! We're clear!"
Trump was whisked away and his campaign confirmed later on Saturday that the former president was wounded but safe.
Saturday evening, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger confirmed that Crooks was dead and an investigation into the suspect was well underway.
President Joe Biden issued a statement and held a news conference about the shooting, calling for the country to unite and that the attempt on Trump's life was "sick."
Trump landed in New Jersey just after midnight following the shooting and was set to rest at his private golf club near Bedminster.
On Sunday, the former president confirmed that he would still be attending this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee as planned.
FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.