Pennsylvania: Butler County, a county in Western Pennsylvania, has been hassle with the events of July 13th, when an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump shook the community to its core. The incident left one man dead and two others seriously injured, haunting the staunchly pro-Trump region as the former president prepares to return for a rally at the same location.
Butler County overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2020 and 2016 elections, but it is now marked by tragedy. On that fateful day in July, a bullet skimmed Trump’s ear, and Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former firefighter, lost his life protecting his wife and daughters. Local Republicans still feel the weight of the attack and are questioning the security failures that allowed the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, to carry out the attempt.
Residents like Jim Hulings, chairman of the Butler County Republican Party, were nearby when the shots rang out. Jim Hulings stated that,”That was the saddest moment of my life.”
Security lapses are at the centre of the community’s frustration. Reports reveal that Crooks was able to fly a drone around the rally site undetected just hours before the shooting, and suspicious activity spotted by local police was not properly communicated to the Secret Service. Despite these warning signs, Crooks managed to fire eight shots from the roof of a local business before he was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Jondavid Longo, the mayor of nearby Slippery Rock, who was on stage moments before the attack, expressed ongoing guilt. He shielded his pregnant wife during the gunfire and says he replays the moment in his mind every day.
Helen Comperatore, Corey’s widow, remains visibly shaken. The couple, childhood sweethearts and avid Trump supporters had joked that Corey might join Trump on stage. Days later, Corey’s fire chief jacket was placed on stage at the Republican convention in Milwaukee, symbolising his sacrifice.
Witnesses like Greg Smith, who saw Crooks on the roof before the shooting, voiced frustration over the failure to prevent the attack. His account of trying to warn the Secret Service was one of the first signs of the security breakdown that day.
As Trump returns to Butler County, many like Smith are still angry. Yet, others, including Helen Comperatore and her daughters, plan to attend in honour of Corey. Helen stated that, “It’s what Corey would have wanted.”
The community’s scars from that day remain fresh, but for many in Butler County, the rally will serve as a chance to honour their fallen neighbour and continue their unwavering support for Donald Trump.
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