Gunman Attacks Presidential Candidate in Butler County
Butler – On Saturday evening, a Pennsylvania man attempted to assassinate former President and presumptive Presidential nominee for the Republican Party Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County; here is what you need to know. The gunman was 20-year-old Thomas Crooks of Bethel Park; he was killed by Secret Service marksmen after he managed to fire eight shots from a rooftop position on one of the Butler Farm Show’s buildings. He caused a superficial wound to the former President’s ear, critically injured two other men, and killed a third. 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township and a 57-year-old New Kensington man named David Dutch were injured in the attack and according to the most recent available information were in stable condition at medical facilities.  The former chief of Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore was killed by one of the assassin’s bullets as he put himself in front of members of his family to protect them. Former President Trump suffered a superficial injury to his ear and was escorted away by agents from the Secret Service, he continued on the campaign trail and traveled to Milwaukee.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the attempted assassination of the former President. While agents combed the single-story home that Thomas Crooks shared with his parents on Milford Lane in Bethel Park neighbors had to be evacuated from the premises after the discovery of possible explosives, possible explosives were also discovered in Crooks’s vehicle according to authorities. At press time, no motive for the attack has been discovered by the authorities.

On Sunday, Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro traveled to Butler County to speak with family members of the victims who were killed and injured during the event and to give a brief address about the situation. During his address, he mentioned Comperatore’s selfless sacrifice to protect his family and other members of the crowd and ordered flags on all public buildings in Pennsylvania to fly at half mast in his recognition. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to benefit Corey’s family and help with funeral expenses, at the time of this publishing it has already raised more than $844,000.