Corey Comperatore, Firefighter Killed at Donald Trump Rally, Remembered by Family 1 Year Later: ‘The Days Have Been So Long’

One year after Corey Comperatore was killed during an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, his family is speaking out about the pain of his loss — and the way they’re choosing to honor his legacy.

Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter and father of two, was fatally shot on July 13, 2024, at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, injuring Trump and two others before being shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.

Corey had attended the rally with his wife Helen and their two daughters, Kaylee and Allyson. Now, a year later, they’re still grappling with the emotional aftermath of that day.

“I had to learn how to live without my best friend,” Helen told the Butler Eagle. “We hadn’t been apart in 34 years. It’s a long time to go without your mate. I had to figure out how to be a single parent.”

Allyson added, “It just feels like the days have been so long. But here we are, almost a year later. It’s hard to grasp how much time has passed.”

As they continue to mourn, the Comperatore family is also preparing to celebrate Corey’s life with a tribute ride called “Corey’s Cruise.” The nearly 50-mile motorcycle ride will take place in West Deer Township and include live music and fireworks. The family will lead the ride in Corey’s prized Ford Mustang convertible — the same car he drove as a teenager.

“It’s bittersweet,” Kaylee said. “I wish my dad was still here so we wouldn’t have to do any of this. But the fact that people know his name, recognize his sacrifice, and want to honor him — it means everything.”

Helen told the Eagle that she and President Trump remain in touch. “He wrote to me, ‘Our families are bonded for life,’” she said. “I couldn’t believe I was getting a letter from the president.”

She also expressed frustration with the Secret Service, calling the shooting a preventable tragedy. “They failed my husband miserably,” Helen told Fox News. “I want to sit down with them and ask: What happened that day? Why was Butler such a failure?”

Despite the heartbreak, the family remains committed to honoring Corey’s legacy of service and kindness. Proceeds from “Corey’s Cruise” will support local first responders, the family’s church, and a Doberman rescue organization — all causes close to Corey’s heart.

“He was a wonderful human,” Helen said. “The best husband, the best father. He would help anybody.”