About 100 meters from the stage where Donald Trump gave his speech in Pennsylvania, the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, had managed to climb onto a roof. And just a few minutes into the speech, shots began to ring.
Three rapid shots were fired in quick succession before the Secret Service returned fire and killed the shooter. One of the shots hit the ex-president’s ear and was only a few millimeters from being able to have a fatal outcome.
Shooting at Donald Trump
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“Pushed away his family”
Three people were also hit in the audience, two were seriously injured. But for 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, it would be the last day of his life.
Corey Comperatore died from gunshot wounds he sustained when he threw himself in front of his family to protect them, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
– He is literally a hero. He pushed his family away and was killed for them, Mike Morehouse, who lived next door to Corey Comperatore, told AP.
Daughter: Woke up to a nightmare
On Facebook, Corey’s daughter writes about the grief:
“Yesterday, time stopped. And when it started going again, my family and I woke up to a nightmare.”
On site at the campaign meeting was retired emergency physician Jim Sweetland who was quickly there and tried to save Corey’s life.
In a interview with CNN says Jim Sweetland that at first he thought it was firecrackers that went off and that he turned his eyes to the shots. When he looked down at the stage again and saw Trump under a pile of bodyguards, he heard the screams.
– I heard a woman shout “he’s been shot”, “he’s down”. I went on muscle memory, that’s what we do, and then I remember going to where he was. I was able to get to him pretty quickly.
Performed CPR
When he arrived, he saw someone helping Corey by applying pressure to the wound. Jim quickly realized that it was critical, the shot had hit behind the right ear.
– I said I’m a doctor, this man has no pulse and he’s not breathing, help me get him onto the bench.
Jim was helped to lift Corey up so he could begin CPR. About two minutes later, several police officers arrived and took over. They carried Corey’s body down to paramedics, but his life could not be saved.
– I looked up and saw Corey’s wife and daughters looking at me. And their looks are something I will never forget.