The nation is reeling from an apparent assassination attempt on Former President Donald Trump Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Calls for unity are growing after the shooting left one person dead and two others seriously injured. Trump says he was shot in the ear, while the suspected shooter, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa., was killed by the United States Secret Service.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro provided an update on the incident on Sunday.
“The assassination attempt on the former President Donald Trump last night was absolutely unacceptable,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro confirmed Sunday that Corey Comperatore, 50, had died a “hero," using his body as a shield to protect both his wife and daughter from the bullets.
“His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.
The governor is ordering flags to half-staff to honor Comperatore, who was a former fire chief from the area.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden extended their “deepest condolences” to Comperatore's family.
“He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired and he lost his life, God love him. We’re also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured," Biden said.
At least two other people were injured during the attempt to kill Trump at Saturday’s rally. Those two have been identified as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday.
“I'm not going to get into any questions regarding answer any questions regarding the ongoing investigation,” Shapiro said. “I trust that the FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police will keep you posted throughout the day and in the days ahead.”
Adrenaline is still keeping some rally attendees in a state of shock.
“Still, I don't think it's hit me,” Renee White said. “I don't think what really happened hit me yet."
White says she was directly behind the former president when the shooting took place.
“But then, there was, like, 1, 2, 3, boom, boom, boom, boom,” she said. “We're sitting there and I'm like, ‘What the heck is going on?’ And as soon as I seen Trump go down soon as I seen the Secret Service. I know I had seen that like in a couple other rallies, but it was like something dropped in the backstage and they panicked and got around him. And then the show went on this one here. I was like, ‘No, it's over.’”
White says it wasn’t her first rally, but will be the most memorable as she and so many across the nation are hoping to see anything positive come of the incident.
“I don't care who you vote for,” White said. “I don't care how you vote. But you have to vote.”
“Political disagreements can never ever be addressed through violence,” Shapiro said. “Disagreements are okay. But we need to use a peaceful political process to settle those differences.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.