Billy Ray Cyrus paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was tragically killed at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
The country star, aged 62, performed at Comperatore’s funeral on Friday, July 19, to honor the 50-year-old hero.
According to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Comperatore “died trying to protect his family” when a shooter opened fire during the rally on Saturday, July 13, per People.
At the funeral held at Cabot Church in Cabot, Pennsylvania, Cyrus sang Amazing Grace and his 1992 hit Some Gave All as special musical selections for the celebration of Comperatore’s life. The New York Times reported that Comperatore was a longtime member of the church.
“Corey Comperatore is an Army reservist veteran and former firefighter chief. [Cyrus] BRC has always been passionate about honoring troops and first responders,” said a source about the performance. “Today he was honored to join the family and perform during the service.”
The Times also noted that a procession of approximately 500 fire trucks, some from as far away as Florida and Texas, was organized to drive from the church to the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, near Comperatore’s hometown of Sarver. An electronic billboard in Freeport, Pennsylvania, displayed a photo of Comperatore alongside the words “a real hero.”
Trump, 78, acknowledged Comperatore during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday. “Tragically the shooter claimed the life of one of our fellow Americans, Corey Comperatore, unbelievable person, everybody tells me,” Trump said. He also kissed the firefighter’s helmet, which was on display, and called for a moment of silence from the audience.
Comperatore was identified as the victim of the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, a day after the incident. Footage shared on social media captured the moment when Trump was injured mid-speech during what the FBI later confirmed was an assassination attempt. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by the Secret Service after opening fire. Besides Comperatore, two others were seriously injured and hospitalized.
Governor Shapiro honored Comperatore’s life in a press conference on Sunday, July 14. “Corey was a girl-dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday,” Shapiro said, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Comperatore’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, expressed her grief on Facebook. “The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most. He was a hero that shielded his daughters. His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable.”
She added: “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.”
In Comperatore’s honor, a GoFundMe page has been established to provide support for his family during this difficult time. It has reached over $1.3 million, surpassing its original $7,000 goal.
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