The widow of the man who was tragically killed during the attempt to assassinate Donald Trump has spoken out.
Over the weekend, the nation was left reeling when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, targeting the 78-year-old Republican candidate.
Trump narrowly escaped serious injury - or worse - sustaining only an ear wound, but the attack left one rally-goer dead and two others seriously injured.
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer fire chief from Sarver, Pennsylvania, lost his life during the shooting.
His loved ones say he sacrificed his life to protect his family during the attack.
Comperatore's daughter, Allyson, shared an emotional tribute on social media, describing how her father saved their lives.
"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," she wrote.
Speaking from the White House on Sunday, President Joe Biden extended condolences to Comperatore's family.
"He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired, and he lost his life. God love him," Biden said.
His widow, Helen Comperatore, revealed she declined to speak with President Biden following the incident, per the New York Post.
"I didn’t talk to Biden," Helen stated from her Pennsylvania home on Monday. "I didn’t want to talk to him. My husband was a devout Republican, and he would not have wanted me to talk to him."
“I don’t have any ill will towards Joe Biden. I’m not one of those people that gets involved in politics. I support Trump. That’s who I’m voting for, but I don’t have ill will towards Biden,” she said.
“He didn’t do anything bad to my husband. A 20-year-old despicable kid did.”
Helen described the rally as an anticipated “exciting day” for the family to support Trump.
As the shots erupted, Comperatore instinctively shouted “Get down”. They have been reported as his final words, as he heroically shielded his family with his body, sacrificing his life in the process.
Two others were injured alongside Trump during the incident, with David Dutch receiving serious injuries to his liver and ribs, requiring multiple surgeries.
James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, attended the rally as a registered Democrat with a keen interest in local politics.
Albert Quaye, a supervisor in Moon Township, described Copenhaver as a retired individual deeply involved in community activities, including the Moon Township Military Banner Committee, which honors local veterans.