Butler DA reflects on Trump assassination attempt in Butler County
When learning about the shooting at the Butler Farm Show grounds on July 13, 2024, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger was shocked and concerned.
Was Trump killed and was anyone else hurt, he wondered.
His concern quickly turned into grief as he learned Buffalo Township resident and firefighter Corey Comperatore died amid the assassination attempt. Two others were critically injured, and Trump’s ear was grazed before countersnipers from the Secret Service shot and killed the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The roller coaster of emotions didn’t stop there.
The day of the tragedy, Goldinger was at a family graduation party. His office had been busy earlier that week preparing for Trump’s arrival, so he opted to keep tabs on the event from outside the rally’s venue.
“The moment he was shot, everything changed,” said Goldinger, whose office oversees the Butler County emergency services unit (ESU) that had provided assistance to the Secret Service at the rally. “My phone was just completely nonstop ringing with text messages, phone calls. I was on the phone until midnight that day.”
Members of the ESU had been stationed in a building at nearby AGR International and attempted to alert Secret Service to Crooks, Goldinger has previously said, but their attempts via a cobbled communication line featuring text messaging amid stretches of poor cell service didn’t prevent the shooting.
He said the following weeks were “stressful” and “busy” for the DA’s office, and every time he thought he’d get a break, another call or email would roll in. He said he even was approached by a New York Times reporter who tracked him down while at an out-of-town conference.
According to Goldinger, members of the ESU initially felt partially responsible for the shooting, but as more information surfaced, this turned to resentment toward those who cast early blame.
After a year to reflect, Goldinger said he is proud of how the ESU handled the situation. He praised the way its members stood up for themselves.
When Trump returned in October, the ESU “insisted” on being part of the planning process and having clearer communication channels, as this was a “major issue” during the July 13 rally.
Goldinger added that cooperation between law enforcement agencies is crucial to public safety. The team will continue to be specially trained.
“We have things in place that are productive for the community,” he said.
The ESU is uniquely resourceful in Goldinger’s eyes. This became even clearer when the county was bolstered to the national stage.
“Everyone knows where Butler is now,” Goldinger said.
Yet, he believes there are still more stories needing to be told.
“A lot of the focus has been on the attempt on the president’s life and not much has paid attention to the citizen victims,” he said.“It had an impact on the people that were there, that witnessed it.”
He also feels more emphasis should be on survivors who were injured and the family of victim Corey Comperatore.
“It’s not something I want to relive,” he said. “I hope this never happens again.”
