Trump shooting victim Corey Comperatore's funeral draws hundreds, security on high alert

Hundreds of people lined a rural area of Pennsylvania waving American flags to honor local hero Corey Comperatore on Friday. 

The former Buffalo Township fire chief shielded his family from gunfire when a shooter opened fire during a Saturday rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler. 

"Get down," were reportedly his last words. Comperatore, 50, lost his life that day. He leaves behind his wife, Helen, and two daughters.

His daughter called her dad a "true hero," and the massive crowds who showed up to pay their respects gave him a lionheart's farewell. 

LAST WORDS OF ‘HERO’ FIREFIGHTER WHO DIED AT TRUMP RALLY SHOOTING REVEALED 

A procession of law enforcement at virtually every level, from local police to federal agents, firefighters from all over the area, EMS and military personnel drove to the funeral. 

Residents waved flags. Some were clearly emotional as they wiped away tears.

TRUMP HONORS FALLEN FIREFIGHTER DURING RNC SPEECH

Comperatore’s fire helmet and jacket shared the stage with Trump as he spoke during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee on Thursday.

"He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets... what a fine man he was," Trump said during his RNC speech. "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others.

"This is the spirit that forged America in her darkest hours, and this is the love that will lead America back to the summit of human achievement and greatness."

Comperatore served 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, served as the chief of the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department in the early 2000s and was a church-going, loving father and husband. 

"Above all, Corey (Comperatore) was the quintessential family man and the best girl dad," his obituary says. "His love for his wife Helen (Scott) Comperatore was a testament to the power of partnership and devotion. 

"Together, they raised two daughters, Allyson and Kaylee Comperatore, who will carry forward his spirit of compassion."

TRUMP RALLY VICTIM COREY COMPERATORE DIED SHIELDING FAMILY AND ‘WOULD’VE DONE IT AGAIN,’ FRIEND SAYS 

His daughter, Allyson, wrote a gut-wrenching Facebook post after her "hero" died. 

"Time stopped," she wrote. "And when it started again, my family and I started living a real-life nightmare.

"What was supposed to be an exciting day that we had all looked forward to (ESPECIALLY my dad), turned into the most traumatizing experience someone could imagine."

His wife, Helen, told the New York Post, "He’s my hero." 

"He just said, ‘get down!’ That was the last thing he said," she said. 

Comperatore's courage was described as "quiet resilience" in his obituary, which said he was quick to help anyone in need. 

He had the "strength to be vulnerable, and the bravery to lead with love … His life reminds us that to be courageous is to love without limits."

The Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company set up a memorial with Comperatore’s uniform outside the firehouse to honor him after his death. 

The shooting that claimed Comperatore's life nearly killed Trump, if it wasn't for a coincidental head movement. 

The bullet that nicked the former president's ear was on a trajectory to pierce the side of his head.

Two other men – David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74 – were also shot but survived. They're recovering in a hospital. 

WATCH: MOURNERS ATTEND THE FUNERAL

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The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who set up on a roof overlooking the rally about 150 yards from where Trump was speaking, was ultimately "neutralized" to end the hail of gunfire. 

How Crooks fell through the cracks and was able to fire off several rounds is part of a heated investigation. Law enforcement said they still don't have a definitive motive for the shooting.

But Friday is about Comperatore, his life and legacy.

Fox News Digital thumps CNN, NY Times, other major news brands in key metrics during second quarter

Americans relied on Fox News Digital for information and analysis during the second quarter of 2024, helping it finish as the No. 1 news organization in both multiplatform minutes and multiplatform views during a historic three-month period. 

The second quarter saw President Biden begin to face ongoing questions about his mental fitness for office after his debate debacle against former President Trump on June 27.  The quarter also featured Trump’s "hush money" trial and guilty verdict, shocking antisemitism on college campuses across the country, Israel's continuing war with Hamas terrorists and the beginning of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's trial in Russia on long-debunked espionage charges, among other historic developments.

Along the way, Fox News Digital finished No. 1 in multiplatform minutes with a staggering 9.2 billion. It was the 13th consecutive quarter that Fox News Digital topped all competitive news brands in the category, including CBS News, NBC News, Washington Post, ABC News, The New York Times, Insider and USA Today.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL VIEWERSHIP CRUSHES MSNBC, CNN DURING SECOND QUARTER

Fox News Digital finished No.1 with 4.8 billion multiplatform views during the news-heavy quarter compared to 3.4 billion for CNN. It was Fox News Digital's 8th straight quarter leading competitive news brands in this key metric. 

Fox News Digital also had an average of 104 million monthly total digital multiplatform unique visitors. On mobile apps, Fox News averaged 5.7 million unique visitors during the second quarter compared to 4.6 million for CNN. 

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During June, Fox News Digital also finished atop both multiplatform minutes and views. It was the 40th straight month as the No. 1 news brands among minutes. 

Fox News Digital delivered 1.6 billion multiplatform views, while CNN fell under the one-billion mark for the first month since February 2015. 

FOXBusiness.com also notched 514 million multiplatform views, surpassing CNN Business for the ninth consecutive quarter, according to a release. The business network delivered 718 million multiplatform minutes and averaged 24.5 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors during the second quarter, seeing 4% year-over-year growth with unique visitors.

Fox News remained the most engaged brand on social media in the competitive set in the second quarter with 77.6 million total social interactions, notching the 41st consecutive quarter FOX News has placed on top, according to Emplifi. Fox News drove 24.2 million interactions on Facebook (up 39% year-over-year), 47.8 million Instagram interactions and 5.6 million X interactions for the quarter. On YouTube, FOX News secured 507.8 million views, according to Shareablee.

Traffic data courtesy of Comscore.