Helen Comperatore, the widow of Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter and father of two who died shielding his family in the shooting that targeted former president Donald Trump, said she did not want to talk to US President Joe Biden who called after the tragedy.

“I didn’t talk to Biden. 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,” Helen Comperatore was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

Helen said that she does not bear any ill will towards Joe Biden. “I don’t have ill will towards Biden. He didn’t do anything bad to my husband. A 20-year-old despicable kid did,” she further added

Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at an election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of nearby Bethel Park, was killed by a Secret Service sniper. The bullet struck the former president in the ear

Along with Corey, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were the other victims but the latter two are said to be “in stable condition”.

“I’m not one of those people that gets involved in politics,” Helen said, adding that going to the Trump rally was supposed to be an “exciting day” for the family who are ardent supporters of Donald Trump, a view that the governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro also echoed later.

“Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night,” he said.

“I support Trump. That’s who I’m voting for,” she said. Helen said that the former US president is yet to reach out to her.

Corey used his body to shield his family from the sniper’s bullets. His daughter, Allyson, in a social media post described her father “died a real-life superhero”.

“He threw my mom and I to the ground… (and) shielded my body from the bullet that came at us,” she continued.

She described her father as “the best dad a girl could ever ask for,” someone always ready to help and quick to “make friends with anyone.”

The governor of Pennsylvania also described Comperatore as a hero and said state flags would be flown at half-staff in his honor.

“We lost a fellow Pennsylvanian last night,” Governor Josh Shapiro, told reporters.

Last updated on September 13th, 2024 at 09:30 pm