Panel discusses Trump assassination attempt
SLIPPERY ROCK — Mayor Jondavid Longo said the Trump rally shooting was the first time he heard live gunfire like that since 2011, when he was serving in Afghanistan.
He noted the rally, that many wanted to be an encore of Trump’s 2020 appearance in Butler, still affects the community to this day.
Longo appeared at Slippery Rock University Student Success Center Wednesday, April 30, along with first responder Rico Elmore and Washington Examiner corespondent Salena Zito, to discuss their experiences during the rally shooting on July 13, 2024.
Zito, whose family is from Butler County, told a crowd of Western Pennsylvanian residents of the chaos of that day, from plans continuously changing in the lead up to the rally; to the reactions afterward, including personal conversations with President Donald Trump.
For Elmore, the day was already eventful. In addition to dealing with temperatures in the 90s while having to wear full suits, the significance of participating, witnessing a presidential rally in our own backyard was overwhelming.
At the event, Longo reflected on how the shooting has left an impact on his town of Slippery Rock, as well as Butler and Butler County. Especially as mayor of a college town, where there was already a divide
“I’m in a weird position to be the mayor of a college town, and there are a lot of individuals in this community who think a different way politically than many of us in the communities that surround us. As honored as I was to be a surrogate for the president, and to campaign with him, to cast an electoral vote for the commonwealth, it’s caused challenges for us in this community that is split politically,” Longo said.
Despite this, Longo said he noticed a period of time where community members came together and were unified in the aftermath of the shooting to work together amid adversity.
The largest takeaway from the event was the admiration of Corey Comperatore, the firefighter killed in the shooting, as well as the Comperatore family who have been in the public eye ever since.
“I have found a lot of love and compassion in the Comperatore family,” said Elmore, who tried to aid Comperatore at the time of the shooting.
The speakers all emphasized to the crowd that Comperatore, who had been attempting to protect his family, was a hero.
“Helene said, ‘I don’t want for anyone to forget what happened on July 13. And I never want anybody to forget my husband,” Longo told the crowd.
Zito, who is currently writing a book titled “Butler,” on the shooting and its aftermath, said it is very clear how special Butler County and its people are.
As the 10-month mark of the shooting nears, Helene Comperatore lauded the Butler community for their support amid the family tragedy.
“Our family has definitely felt this. We’re coming up on 10 months already, it’s kind of hard to believe. We’re still struggling pretty hard from the events of July 13,” she said. “We feel the prayers, and we appreciate it, and we’re grateful for the people of Butler County.”
