Friend Of Corey Comperatore, Killed At Trump Rally, Reveals Tragic Twist

A close friend of Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old firefighter and self-professed “girl dad” who was shot and killed at a Trump rally on Saturday, revealed he was also the victim of plans that changed at the last minute.

The New York Post spoke with Scott Docherty, the CEO of manufacturing company CID Associates who employed Comperatore’s brother, during a wake for the local hero earlier this week. According to him, some seat-swapping was made by his pal at the last minute, putting Comperatore in the crosshairs of a deranged gunman who fired at former President Donald Trump, killing him and gravely injuring two others. “So talk about a freak, freak accident. That he wasn’t even supposed to be sitting there and he ends up losing his life,” said Dockherty.

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Hundreds of mourners gathered at Laube Hall in Freeport to pay their respects to a man many said was unfailingly dedicated to his wife Helen and daughters Allyson and Kaylee who he shielded as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks began opening fire. He worked as a project and tooling engineer, was an Army reservist with a decade of service, and spent many years as a volunteer firefighter after serving as chief, according to the AP.

An endless showing of first responders appeared at Comperatore’s wake as well, the outlet reported, with police cars and firetrucks lining the streets and parking lot outside the building. Snipers were positioned on nearby rooftops to protect the crowd and many were seen wearing their firefighter uniforms.

“You realize that Corey and his family weren’t even supposed to sit in those seats,” Docherty told reporters, citing a conversation he had with Compertore’s brother, Steve. He added that the family of four was standing off to the side of the stage when a sympathetic guest offered their four seats up to the family. The Trump super-fan immediately agreed.

“So Corey said, ‘Yes, I would love to do that,’” Docherty said.

Two other Trump supporters, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 54, were hit by Crooks’ AR-15 rifle rounds but are expected to recover.

President Donald Trump on Thursday honored Comperatore during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention where at times he struck a tone of civility and graciousness, kissing the deceased’s firefighter helmet on stage and admiring him as “an unbelievable person.” A fund established by the former president to support his family and the two recovering victims has raised more than $6 million, the AP added.

Investigators are still probing for a motive behind the assassination attempt by Crooks who was shot and killed after firing eight rounds. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle defended a decision to not place an agent on the roof where Crooks stood and on Thursday was confronted by an angry group of Republican senators who promised to interrogate her for the catastrophic security failure. Despite being a registered Republican, those who knew Crooks say he was politically agnostic about both major parties.

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