Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro IDs victim from Trump rally shooting, urges peace

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Sunday made an appeal for peace while identifying one of Saturday's victims from the shooting at the Pennsylvania campaign rally for former President Donald Trump.

"Last night was shocking for this community, for this commonwealth and I know for this country," Shapiro said during a broadcast news conference from Butler, Pennsylvania. "Political disagreements can never, ever be addressed through violence.

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"Disagreements are OK, but we need to use a peaceful political process to settle our differences."

The FBI said 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, fired at the former president, with one bullet nicking Trump's ear. Crooks was killed by security services at the Butler Farm Show Grounds.

Corey Comperatore, a resident of Sarver, was fatally shot. USA Today reported two other people who attended Trump's rally are being treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and remain in critical condition, Nikki Buccina, a spokesperson for the Allegheny Health Network confirmed.

Shapiro said Comperatore was "the very best of us" and "died a hero," as his wife said he dove over his family to protect them from the gunfire.

USA Today reported one of Comperatore's daughters, Allyson, updated her Facebook profile picture to a photo of her and her dad. Dozens of people commented on the photo sharing their sympathies.

“Corey was a girl dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community. Most especially, Corey loved his family," Shapiro said. "Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him and the community."

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Shapiro said he had not spoken directly to Trump. He said President Joe Biden reached out to ensure the state had all the resources it needed, and that he told Biden the commonwealth had "no unmet needs at this time" and was partnering with federal investigators.

"Violence is never acceptable," Shapiro said.

Shapiro also asked for prayers for Trump, the Comperatores and the other injured victims.

"All leaders need to take down the temperature and rise above the hateful rhetoric that exists and search for a better brighter future for this nation," Shapiro said. "That's the work I try to do each and every day in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that's the work that falls to each and every American right now."

Shortly after the press conference, Pennsylvania State Police identified two other victims.

Also injured at the event were 74-year-old Moon Township resident James Copenhaver and 57-year-old New Kensington resident David Dutch. Both were listed in stable condition as of midday Sunday.

Bruce Siwy is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Pennsylvania state capital bureau. He can be reached at bsiwy@gannett.com or on X at @BruceSiwy.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Corey Comperatore identified as victim of Butler Trump rally shooting