Buffalo Township, Pa. (KTKA) – Hundreds of mourners gathered in Buffalo Township to pay their respects. Cory Comperatore was killed at a rally for former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Countless fire trucks and motorcycles lined Route 356 in Butler County in honor of Comberador, whose casket sat atop one of the fire trucks draped in an American flag.
A private service was held Friday at Cabot United Methodist Church, where Comberador was a lifelong member.
“A death like that is not easy,” said a mourner.
Compradore is a father and firefighter who died protecting his family from gunfire at last weekend’s rally. He was a firefighter for Buffalo Township for 30 years. He was also a 10-year veteran of the US Army Reserves.
“Our dad is a firefighter and it hits close to home for us,” one said.
Following the funeral, the casket was carried from the church by eight firefighters and placed on a fire engine wrapped in black bunting as Comparator’s grieving family watched.
“We must all stand together in support of this family who has tragically lost a husband, father and a good member of this proud community,” said Linda Ryan of Middlesex Township.
Three firefighters stood guard in the back of the fire truck, and the farewell procession was followed by hundreds of emergency vehicles from fire departments across the region.
Mourners of all ages, many dressed in patriotic attire and waving American flags, lined the path as the casket passed. One last trip was to the Buffalo Fire Station as a tribute to Campador.
The comparator is 50 years old.
Donald Trump paid tribute to Cory Cory Compador
On Thursday night, the public paid their respects in Freeport.
The Comperatore family released a statement saying, “Our family finds solace and peace in the heartfelt messages of encouragement from people around the world.”
Former President Donald Trump delivered his own heartfelt message to families at the Republican National Convention on Thursday evening.
“He’s incredible,” Trump said. “He was a highly respected former fire chief, respected by all. [He] He was accompanied by his wife Helen, the incredible woman I spoke to today, devastated and two precious daughters. He selflessly acted as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets and lost his life. He went up and was attacked. What a good man he is.”
