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(NewsNation) — Firefighter Corey Comperatore has now been identified as the person who was killed during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Comperatore, 50, was shielding his family from the bullets before he was struck, according to his sister, Dawn, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Sunday.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Comperatore was a former fire chief for South Buffalo Township in Butler County, PA.
The governor said flags would be flown at half-staff in honor of Comperatore.
“Corey was a girl dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Cory loved his community,” Shapiro said.
“Most especially, Cory loved his family. Corey was an avid supporter of the former president, and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community,” the governor continued.
Shapiro added that he had spoken with the family of the victim, describing Comperatore as a hero, with a great emphasis on his family.
President Joe Biden paid tribute to Comperatore, without using his name, during his Sunday afternoon press conference.
“We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed,” Biden said. “He was a father, he was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired – and he lost his life. God love him.”
Matt Achilles, a former neighbor of Comperatore, told Pennsylvania’s TribLIVE that he was a “good person.”
“He lived about six houses down from us,” Achilles told the outlet. “He was a good person. We might not have agreed on the same political views, but that didn’t stop him from being a good friend and neighbor.
“He donated money to us when I was in the hospital and he would always come by at our yard sales. He always waved hello when I drove past his house.”
