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Corey Comperatore’s wife, daughters talk about deadly shooting

BEFORE THE EYES OF THE WORLD. TO WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE SHOTS RANG OUT IN BUTLER TOWNSHIP. ONE MAN IMMEDIATELY DOVE TO PROTECT HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. COREY COMPARATOR PUT HIMSELF BETWEEN THE BULLETS AND HIS FAMILY, AND ONE OF THOSE EIGHT BULLETS FIRED STRUCK COREY IN THE HEAD AS AMERICA WATCHED SECRET SERVICE SCRAMBLED TO PROTECT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. COREY WAS TAKING HIS LAST BREATH. HE DEFINITELY WAS A HERO. HE SAVED HIS WIFE. HE SAVED HIS CHILD, AND. HE WAS JUST THE BEST GUY HE HE WAS JUST THE BEST. ONE MONTH LATER, HIS WIDOW, HELEN COMPARATOR, DECIDED TO TALK EXCLUSIVELY WITH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND ABOUT THE LOVE OF HER LIFE. HE WAS JUST A WONDERFUL MAN, AND I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO YOU KNOW, TRY NOT TO REMEMBER HIM AS THE MAN THAT WAS SHOT AT THE RALLY. YOU KNOW, JUST TRY TO REMEMBER COREY, AS YOU KNOW, HE WAS A GREAT MAN. THAT WAS A GREAT FATHER. HE WAS A GREAT HUSBAND. HELEN AND COREY MARRIED 29 YEARS AGO. THEY WERE CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS. THEY STARTED DATING AS SOPHOMORES IN HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS VALENTINE’S DAY. COREY SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE WITH A DOZEN OF RED ROSES. SO WE JUST STARTED DATING. I SAID, DOES THIS MEAN WE’RE DATING? HE SAID, YEAH, I THINK SO. I SAID, OKAY. THEY EVENTUALLY MARRIED AND HAD TWO DAUGHTERS. ALISON AND KAYLEE. THEY WERE ALSO AT THE RALLY WITH THEIR PARENTS THAT DAY. THEY SAID THEIR DAD WAS THRILLED TO BE GOING TO SEE TRUMP IN PERSON FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, WHEN THE SHOTS RANG OUT, COREY YELLED FOR THEM TO GET DOWN AND AS HE PUSHED ALISON OUT OF THE WAY, A BULLET STRUCK HIM. I WAS THE ONE THAT MY DAD THREW DOWN. UM. AS HE WAS THROWING ME DOWN, HE THAT WAS WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND HE ENDED UP FALLING ONTO ME. UM, AND I, I DON’T REMEMBER HEARING ANY OTHER SHOTS. I DON’T REMEMBER FEELING ANY OTHER SHOTS BECAUSE, LIKE, IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS JUST I LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I WAS TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. UM, I WAS REALLY CONFUSED WHEN HE WAS ON ME. UM, AND I HAD TURNED AROUND JUST I WAS LIKE, CONFUSED. AND I WENT, DAD. AND WHEN I TURNED IS WHENEVER HE FELL DOWN. AND THAT’S WHEN I STARTED SCREAMING AND I WAS INSTANTLY LIKE, I WAS TRYING TO KEEP HIM FROM BLEEDING. I STARTED SCREAMING, BUT IN MY HEAD I KEPT SAYING, WAKE UP, WAKE UP, LIKE, THIS IS A DREAM. WAKE UP. AND THEN YOU REALIZE IT’S NOT A DREAM AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR WHOLE WORLD IS JUST OVER. BUT HELEN DOESN’T WANT COREY TO BE REMEMBERED FOR THIS TRAGEDY AT 16 YEARS OLD, HE BECAME A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND EVENTUALLY A FIRE CHIEF. HE LOVED HIS TWO RAMBUNCTIOUS DOBERMAN PINSCHERS, BUT HIS PASSION WAS BASS FISHING AND SHE SHARED WITH US HIS FAVORITE FISHING SPOT, A PLACE THEY WENT EVERY WEEKEND TOGETHER, EVEN IN THE RAIN. HIS ANSWER ALWAYS WAS, WELL, THE FISH ARE WET. THEY DON’T CARE. BUT THEY TOLD ME MOST OF ALL HE WAS THE BEST GIRL DAD. HE WOULD PUT MY HAIR IN BRAIDS IF I WANTED MY HAIR IN BRAIDS. AND WHEN I WAS DOING COMPETITIVE CHEER, HE WAS THE COOL DAD BECAUSE HE COULD DO BACKHAND SPRINGS. SO AND AS SOON AS EVERYBODY GOT WIND OF THAT, IT WAS YOU KNOW, HE HAD ALL THESE LITTLE GIRLS BEGGING HIM TO GO UP AND DO THESE BACK HANDSPRINGS ON THE TUMBLE TRACK. COREY’S FIREFIGHTER GEAR WAS DISPLAYED AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, WHICH WAS A SPECIAL HONOR. THAT WAS AN HONOR THAT WAS A BIG HONOR. YEAH, THAT WAS A BIG HONOR. SO I’LL TELL YOU WHY. ALL DAY AT THE RALLY, MY HUSBAND KEPT SAYING HE’S GOING TO CALL ME UP ON STAGE. YOU’RE GOING TO HEAR HIM. HE’S GOING TO SAY, COREY, COME ON UP HERE. COREY, GET UP HERE. HE WAS JUST JOKING, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY. BUT HE KEPT SAYING THAT YOU’RE GOING TO GET UP. YOU KNOW HE’S GOING TO CALL ME UP ON STAGE AND WE WERE ALL LIKE THERE’S THIS MOMENT HE’S UP ON STAGE. SO YEAH HE GOT HIS MOMENT ON STAGE. PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE SENT THEIR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. THERE HAVE BEEN PRAYER SHAWLS, WIND CHIMES AND SO MANY CARDS, TEARS ARE FLOWING FROM AMERICANS AND OTHER COUNTRIES. A GOFUNDME HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE FAMILY. BUT AS GRATEFUL AS HELEN IS FOR THE MONEY AND THE SUPPORT, SHE KNOWS IT WILL NEVER BRING COREY BACK. I TALKED TO HIM ANYWAY AND THE ONLY THING THAT EVER COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH IS, I’M SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO YOU, BUT I KNOW HE WOULD WANT ME TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. I KNOW HE WOULD TO GET ANSWERS TO WHAT HAPPENED. SHE’S HIRED AN ATTORNEY TO HELP HER FIND ANSWERS AND GET JUSTICE. I WANT JUSTICE FOR MY HUSBAND, AND I’M GOING TO GET IT. THEY SPECIFICALLY WANT ANSWERS FROM SECURITY AT THE RALLY. I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I REALLY THINK MY DAD’S BLOOD IS ON THEIR HANDS, AND I HOPE THEY WAKE UP EVERY DAY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY TOOK FROM OUR FAMILY, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND SEE THAT IMAGE OF OUR FATHER IN OUR HEAD. AND NO CHILD SHOULD EVER HAVE TO

’He definitely was a hero’: Corey Comperatore’s wife, daughters talk about deadly shooting

When shots rang out at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler Township, one man immediately dove to protect his wife and daughters.Corey Comperatore put himself between the bullets and his family. One of those eight bullets fired struck him in the head.As America watched the Secret Service scramble to protect Trump, Comperatore was taking his last breath.”He definitely was a hero,” said Comperatore’s widow, Helen. “He saved his wife, he saved his child and he was just the best guy. He was just the best.”One month later, Helen Comperatore decided to talk exclusively with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 about what happened that day — and about the love of her life.”He was just a wonderful man, and I want everyone not to remember him as man shot at a rally,” Helen Comperatore said. “Just remember Corey as he was — a great man who was a great father, great husband.”Helen and Corey married 29 years ago. They were childhood sweethearts who started dating as sophomores in high school.”It was Valentine’s Day, and Corey showed up at my house with a dozen roses,” Helen said. “I said, ‘Does this mean we’re dating?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I think so,’ and I said, ‘OK.'”They eventually married and had two daughters, Allyson and Kaylee, who were also at the rally with their parents. They said their father was thrilled at going to see Trump in person for the first time. When shots were fired, Corey yelled for them to get down and, as he pushed Allyson out of the way, a bullet struck him.”I was the one that my dad threw down. As he was throwing me down, that is when he was shot and he ended up falling on me,” Allyson said. “I don’t remember any other shots. In that moment, I was trying to take care of him. I was really confused when he was on me.”I had turned around, I went, ‘Dad’ — he fell down, and that’s when I started screaming and I was trying to keep him from bleeding.””I started screaming, but in my head, I kept saying, ‘Wake up, this is a dream,'” Kaylee said. “And then you realize it’s not a dream, and you feel like your whole world is just over.”At 16, Corey Comperatore became a volunteer firefighter, and eventually a fire chief. He loved his two rambunctious Dobermann pinschers, and bass fishing was his passion. Helen showed us his favorite fishing spot, a place they went every weekend, even in the rain.”His answer was, ‘The fish are wet, they don’t care,'” she said.But most of all, the family says Corey was the best “girl dad.””He would put my hair in braids,” Allyson said. “When I was in competitive cheer, he was the cool dad because he could do back handsprings — little girls begging him to do back handsprings on the tumble track.”Corey Comperatore’s firefighter gear was displayed at the Republican National Convention.”That was a big honor. I’ll tell you why,” Helen said. “All day at the rally, he kept saying, ‘You’re going to hear him (say) Corey, get up here.’ He was just joking, ‘You’re going to get up,’ and we were all like, there’s his moment. He’s up on stage. He got his moment on stage.”People across the country have sent their support and prayers. There are prayer shawls, a cross, wind chimes and so many cards. A GoFundMe has raised millions of dollars for the family.As grateful as she is for the money and support, Helen knows it will never bring Corey back.”I talk to him anyway, and the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, ‘I’m so sorry this happened to you,'” Helen said. “But I know he would want me to get to the bottom of this. I know he would.”To get answers about what happened, Helen Comperatore has hired an attorney.”I want justice for my husband, and I’m going to get it,” she said.They specifically want answers from security at the rally.”I just want them to know I think my dad’s blood is on their hands, and I hope they wake up every day thinking about what they took from our family,” Kaylee said. “Because we have to wake up every day and see that image of our father in our head, and no child should ever have to see that.”Two other people in the crowd at the rally were shot. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, are both home from the hospital and recovering.The Comperatore family plans to start a foundation with the money that has been raised.Helen Comperatore says she has been invited to be a part of Trump’s next visit to Butler in October, but that she will have to see how security is before making a decision whether to join him on stage.

When shots rang out at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler Township, one man immediately dove to protect his wife and daughters.

Corey Comperatore put himself between the bullets and his family. One of those eight bullets fired struck him in the head.

As America watched the Secret Service scramble to protect Trump, Comperatore was taking his last breath.

“He definitely was a hero,” said Comperatore’s widow, Helen. “He saved his wife, he saved his child and he was just the best guy. He was just the best.”

One month later, Helen Comperatore decided to talk exclusively with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 about what happened that day — and about the love of her life.

“He was just a wonderful man, and I want everyone not to remember him as man shot at a rally,” Helen Comperatore said. “Just remember Corey as he was — a great man who was a great father, great husband.”

Helen and Corey married 29 years ago. They were childhood sweethearts who started dating as sophomores in high school.

“It was Valentine’s Day, and Corey showed up at my house with a dozen roses,” Helen said. “I said, ‘Does this mean we’re dating?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I think so,’ and I said, ‘OK.'”

They eventually married and had two daughters, Allyson and Kaylee, who were also at the rally with their parents. They said their father was thrilled at going to see Trump in person for the first time. When shots were fired, Corey yelled for them to get down and, as he pushed Allyson out of the way, a bullet struck him.

“I was the one that my dad threw down. As he was throwing me down, that is when he was shot and he ended up falling on me,” Allyson said. “I don’t remember any other shots. In that moment, I was trying to take care of him. I was really confused when he was on me.

“I had turned around, I went, ‘Dad’ — he fell down, and that’s when I started screaming and I was trying to keep him from bleeding.”

“I started screaming, but in my head, I kept saying, ‘Wake up, this is a dream,'” Kaylee said. “And then you realize it’s not a dream, and you feel like your whole world is just over.”

At 16, Corey Comperatore became a volunteer firefighter, and eventually a fire chief. He loved his two rambunctious Dobermann pinschers, and bass fishing was his passion. Helen showed us his favorite fishing spot, a place they went every weekend, even in the rain.

“His answer was, ‘The fish are wet, they don’t care,'” she said.

But most of all, the family says Corey was the best “girl dad.”

“He would put my hair in braids,” Allyson said. “When I was in competitive cheer, he was the cool dad because he could do back handsprings — little girls begging him to do back handsprings on the tumble track.”

Corey Comperatore’s firefighter gear was displayed at the Republican National Convention.

“That was a big honor. I’ll tell you why,” Helen said. “All day at the rally, he kept saying, ‘You’re going to hear him (say) Corey, get up here.’ He was just joking, ‘You’re going to get up,’ and we were all like, there’s his moment. He’s up on stage. He got his moment on stage.”

People across the country have sent their support and prayers. There are prayer shawls, a cross, wind chimes and so many cards. A GoFundMe has raised millions of dollars for the family.

As grateful as she is for the money and support, Helen knows it will never bring Corey back.

“I talk to him anyway, and the only thing that comes out of my mouth is, ‘I’m so sorry this happened to you,'” Helen said. “But I know he would want me to get to the bottom of this. I know he would.”

To get answers about what happened, Helen Comperatore has hired an attorney.

“I want justice for my husband, and I’m going to get it,” she said.

They specifically want answers from security at the rally.

“I just want them to know I think my dad’s blood is on their hands, and I hope they wake up every day thinking about what they took from our family,” Kaylee said. “Because we have to wake up every day and see that image of our father in our head, and no child should ever have to see that.”

Two other people in the crowd at the rally were shot. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, are both home from the hospital and recovering.

The Comperatore family plans to start a foundation with the money that has been raised.

Helen Comperatore says she has been invited to be a part of Trump’s next visit to Butler in October, but that she will have to see how security is before making a decision whether to join him on stage.