Thousands of mourners have paid their respects to a former fire chief who was shot and killed during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
The former president sent a note of condolence hailing Corey Comperatore as a hero, a copy of which was displayed at the visitation.
He did not attend the memorial, which was the second of two public events memorializing and celebrating Comperatore´s life.
A private funeral at Cabot Church in Butler, Pennsylvania, began on Friday with Comperatore’s flag-draped coffin being carried inside by firefighters.
The flag-draped casket with Corey Comperatore’s body is carried by firefighters into his private funeral at Cabot Church in Butler, Pennsylvania
Corey Comperatore was killed by the assassin’s bullet as eight shots were fired at Trump on Saturday night, one hitting the former president and others striking rally attendees
His body was taken to the church in a huge procession of emergency vehicles, especially firetrucks, that weaved its way through Sarver, Pennsylvania.
Trump is not going to the funeral because of Secret Service concerns, according to a source who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday at a vigil for him at a car racing track in Freeport, Pennsylvania, and then at a banquet hall on Thursday.
The crowd on Thursday appeared to be a mix of friends, neighbors and strangers who wanted to show their appreciation for the man who officials said spent his final moments shielding his wife and daughter from gunfire at the campaign rally.
Fire trucks and police vehicles filled the parking lot outside the building.
Sharpshooters were positioned on top of the event hall and on nearby buildings as people including firefighters in dress uniforms, waited in line to enter.
Comperatore, 50, worked as a project and tooling engineer, was an Army reservist and spent many years as a volunteer firefighter after serving as chief, according to his obituary.
Trump suffered an ear injury but was not seriously hurt and has been participating this week in the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Firefighters carry the coffin inside Cabot Church in Butler, Pennsylvania
People ride on motorcycles, during a procession of emergency vehicles through Sarver, Pennsylvania, transporting the coffin with the body of Corey Comperatore
Trump honored Comperatore during his speech on Thursday night accepting the party’s presidential nomination, displaying his firefighting gear on the convention stage, kissing his helmet and heralding the ex-chief as ‘an unbelievable person.’
Trump said a fund for Comperatore´s family and the two men wounded in the attack has raised more than $6 million.
Mourners filled Laube Hall, a space with white brick walls, white linens, white curtains and exposed wooden beams that´s normally used for weddings and other celebratory occasions.
Guests walked past a large, framed photo of Comperatore holding a fish, while a slideshow of photos from his life was projected on a screen – his wedding, a recent 50th birthday party, time with his daughters, firefighting, fishing, and palling around with his Dobermans.
The gathering included firefighters from other nearby communities and people involved in local and state Republican politics.
The huge procession of emergency vehicles, especially firetrucks, weaved its way through Sarver, Pennsylvania
A firetruck stages for the funeral procession of Corey Comperatore’s body
A drone view shows emergency vehicles line up outside of the Freeport Area Middle School, preparing for the procession
Rich Tallis, a Penn Hills volunteer firefighter who attended the visitation, did not know Comperatore personally but felt a need to honor his memory.
‘Any first responder, it´s a brotherhood – police, EMS fire, military. We’re technically all one,’ he said.
Tables inside the hall were lined with flowers – some sent by fire departments in New York and West Virginia, an auto racing circuit and the mayor of a nearby community. Others came from as far away as Florida.
Mourners took turns pausing in front of Comperatore’s open casket.
In a corner was a framed copy of a note to Comperatore´s wife signed by Trump and former first lady Melania Trump. ‘Corey will forever be remembered as a True American Hero,’ they wrote.
Retired New York City Fire Department Lt Joe Torrillo said outside the visitation that he came because Comperatore was a firefighter who lost his life the same way he lived his life – like a hero.
A man holds an American flag, on the day of a procession of emergency vehicles transporting the coffin with the body of Comperatore
Beth and David Oziel, of Buffalo Township, observe a procession of emergency vehicles transporting the coffin with the body of Comperatore
‘And, you know, a lot of people maybe wouldn’t or couldn’t have done what he did,’ Torrillo said.
Jon Ruffley, who lives outside Pittsburgh and attended part of the Trump rally Saturday, went to the visitation with his wife and young child.
He said he hoped his presence sent a supportive message to the family that ‘we stick together as Americans regardless of, you know, what someone’s political affiliations are’.
‘I think it´s really important that we raise our kids in a way where we can see that political violence is unacceptable, that we stand for having important discourses about things in, in our society,’ he said.
A box truck parked on a route to the banquet hall displayed video screens showing slides, including a photograph of Trump raising his fist after Saturday’s shooting.
It had the slogan ‘never surrender’ and a message expressing prayers for Trump and Comperatore.
Firefighters ride on the back of a firetruck carrying Comperatore’s body
Fire fighters carry the casket of Corey Comperatore, a retired volunteer fire department chief who was shot and killed in the attack on Trump
A statement issued Thursday by Comperatore’s family described him as a ‘beloved father and husband, and a friend to so many throughout the Butler region.’
‘Our family is finding comfort and peace through the heartfelt messages of encouragement from people around the world, through the support of our church and community, and most of all through the strength of God,’ the statement said.
Two other people were wounded at the rally: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township.
As of Wednesday night, both had been upgraded to serious but stable condition, according to a spokesperson with Allegheny Health Network.
Joseph Feldman, an attorney for Copenhaver, said Wednesday that he had spoken with his client by phone.
‘He seems to be in good spirits, but he also understands the gravity of the situation,’ Feldman said.
Dan Beasley walks through the parking lot at Laube Hall in the Freeport Community Park carrying a crucifix during a memorial visitation for Comperatore on Thursday
Visitors arrive for the evening visitation session for Corey Comperatore at Laube Hall in Freeport, Pennsylvania, on Thursday
Trump places his hand on a helmet and firefighter’s jacket that belonged to Comperatore onstage at the Republican National Convention on Thursday
‘And he´s deeply saddened about what has occurred, and he´s deeply sympathetic’ to the other victims and their families.
Feldman said Copenhaver suffered ‘life-altering injuries,’ declining to go into detail.
He said Copenhaver’s priority is to ‘keep up with the medical treatment he´s receiving and hopefully be released at some point.’
In a statement, Dutch’s family thanked the ‘greater western Pennsylvania community and countless others across the country and world’ for the incredible outpouring of prayers and well wishes.