Victims of Trump's Pennsylvania rally shooting are named

The victims of Saturday's attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump have been revealed.

Over the weekend, the nation was rocked by the tragic events that unfolded during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Chaos unfolded when a gunman - now identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks - attempted to assassinate the 78-year-old Republican candidate.

Despite Trump narrowly escaping serious harm - only suffering an upper ear injury - one man was killed and a further two other rally-goers seriously injured. The victims have since been named.

Corey Comperatore

Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer fire chief from Sarver, Pennsylvania, has been remembered as a hero who sacrificed his life to protect his family during the attack.

According to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Comperatore shielded his family from bullets by diving on them during the assassination attempt, per BBC News. Governor Shapiro hailed Comperatore's bravery, noting his commitment to community service and his deep love for his family.

"Corey died a hero," Shapiro said.

Comperatore's daughter, Allyson, has emotionally recounted on social media how her father saved their lives, describing him as the "best dad a girl could ever ask for" and expressing her gratitude for his selfless act.

Allyson revealed that her father "shielded [her] body from the bullet", adding: "He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us. And I want nothing more than to cry on him and tell him thank you."

Comperatore's sister, Dawn, also expressed grief on Facebook, writing: "This feels like a terrible nightmare but we know it is our painful reality."

A fellow firefighter, Craig Cirrincione, remembered Comperatore as someone who "just wanted to protect and serve and love," underscoring his role not only as a firefighter but also as a project and tooling engineer at a plastics manufacturing company.

Despite differing political views, Comperatore's neighbors have recalled his kindness and generosity, citing instances of his support during personal hardships and community events.

Matt Achilles, a neighbor, praised Comperatore as a "good person" who transcended political differences with his warmth and friendliness. "We might not have agreed on the same political views, but that didn’t stop him from being a good friend and neighbor," Achilles said.

Speaking from the White House on Sunday, President Joe Biden said of Comperatore: "We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed. He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired, and he lost his life. God love him. 

"We’re also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured. And we’re grateful to the Secret Service agents and other law enforcement agencies who — and individuals who risked their lives, literally, for our nation."

David Dutch

David Dutch, another victim of the shooting, hails from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and works for the technology company Siemens.

His sister, Jennifer Veri-Grazier, revealed that the 57-year-old sustained serious injuries to his liver and ribs, requiring multiple surgeries.

Known as a devoted Trump supporter, Veri-Grazier told the New York Times: "He was exercising his rights and went to the rally, and he didn’t deserve any of this."

James Copenhaver

James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, brought a different perspective to the rally as a registered Democrat with a keen interest in local politics, per the New York Times.

Albert Quaye, a supervisor in Moon Township, described Copenhaver as a retired individual deeply involved in community activities, including membership in Moon Township's Military Banner Committee, which honors local veterans.

As investigations continue, our thoughts go out to everybody impacted by this tragedy.

Featured image credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty