Butler County will forever be linked to the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt of a presidential candidate and tragic attack upon the spectators at a campaign rally.

“July 13, 2025 felt a lot like Sept. 11 for many of us in Butler County,” said Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo, who attended the rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. “There was a thick sense of despair, confusion and agony.”

Local and state political officials recalled their experience at the rally for then candidate President Donald Trump which killed a Butler County man, critically injured two other spectators and grazed Trump’s ear. The attack, some said, galvanized Trump’s return path to the White House.

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Western Pennsylvania native and invited rally guest, lamented how the shooting may forever taint the public perception of Butler County.

“I believe it will always be remembered as the site of the attempted assassination of President Trump,” McCormick said. “It ought to be known for the invention of the Jeep or its rich manufacturing heritage or the kindness of its people; but since this historic event, many recall what they were doing that day at the time of the shooting and think of Butler.”

McCormick, then a candidate embroiled in a race with incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, said nothing seemed amiss when the day started, as thousands packed into the farm show grounds in Connoquenessing Township to support the presumptive Republican candidate.

“I wanted to tell my story and make my case to the great people of Butler County,” McCormick said. “Before the shooting, it seemed like a normal rally. Everyone was thrilled to be there in support of President Trump and the Republican ticket. As I walked onto the fairgrounds, I was greeted by smiling attendees and took photos with supporters.”

McCormick was in the front row at the rally. During his appearance, shortly before the tragedy unfolded, Trump asked McCormick to come onto the stage to speak. For unknown reasons, however, Trump changed his mind and continued with his remarks on the U.S.-Mexico border — a decision that may have saved McCormick’s life.

“Unaware of what was to come, President Trump changed his mind and asked me to hold on a few minutes and wait until he spoke about the border, showing off his prized immigration chart,” McCormick said. “Just a minute or two after that, shots were fired. Little did he know that this immigration chart would save his life because as he turned his head to look at the projection of the chart, the bullet that was meant for his head, struck his ear instead.”

Other local politicians who attended the rally were Longo — who went on to cast an official electoral vote for Trump after he won the presidential election in November — as well as U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, and state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th.

Both Kelly and Longo spoke during the rally in support of Trump, and Longo previously told the Butler Eagle that Trump pointed in his direction right before the gunfire erupted.

State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, brought his wife and three children to the rally. The family was seated in the front row, not far from where eight bullets rained down on the crowd.

“We actually left before the president came on stage,” Bernstine said. “We were there for such a long time, and my kids weren't feeling so hot, so we headed out.”

It wasn’t until after they got home that Bernstine found out what happened.

“I was at home and I was watching it live on TV,” Bernstine said. “Obviously the first thing is, you’re concerned about not only the president, but those in attendance. Many of them were very close friends. That was the first thing that went through my mind.

“And obviously, that this situation was a terrible moment in American history that could have been much worse.”

State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, was away from home the day of the assassination attempt. She was on her way to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, along with her sister, Michele, the county Recorder of Deeds. There, Trump was due to officially accept the Republican nomination for president for the third consecutive election cycle.

The Butler rally was Trump’s last stop before the convention. There was some speculation before the event that he would name his running mate — now Vice President JD Vance — at the rally, which did not come to pass.

“In the car, we were listening to the live audio of the proceedings when the feed dropped,” Mustello said. “It was shortly thereafter that I received calls from friends who were at the event and were watching on television. My initial reaction was disbelief. It was hard to comprehend that something like this would happen so close to home.”

“July 13, 2024, brought the worst out in many and the very best in many others,” Longo said.

Many close to the situation recall, one year later, a brief period of political unity and shared outrage after the attack in the middle of an election cycle that was fraught with tension both before and after the shooting.

“After the incident, I believe there was a shared sense of sorrow for those who were hurt and a strong resolve to have answers for how this occurred,” Mustello said.

Bernstine, who said he has dealt with the emotions from the attack by turning his focus on his job and the responsibility to his constituents, said that period of unity is over.

“I heard from both Republicans and Democrats checking on me, making sure I was OK,” Bernstine said. “For a short period of time after that, the rhetoric was turned down. But just as recently as today, you had Democrats on the House floor calling Donald Trump, and this is a quote, ‘the devil.’ So clearly the rhetoric hasn't changed at all.”

McCormick said he believes that the shooting also turned the presidential election permanently in Trump’s favor, especially after images were published of a bloodied Trump defiantly waving his fist toward the crowd and mouthing the word “Fight.”

In Butler County, “Fight” graffiti could be found on roads near the shooting site in the weeks following the event.

“The world was able to witness President Trump’s strength and resilience, and that momentum certainly contributed to his historic victory in November,” McCormick said. “Just days after the shooting, President Trump addressed the crowd at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. He had never-before-seen momentum.”

As the facts of the shooting have come out over the year, both Mustello and Bernstine expressed frustration how such an event was allowed to happen.

“A year later, I am a bit dismayed about what happened, because analysis has shown that it may have been prevented with better security planning such as more direct coordination and cooperation with our state and local law enforcement,” Mustello said.

“Our local law enforcement acted heroically,” Bernstine said. “It was clearly a failure by the United States Secret Service with the security situation.”

Local officials attribute much of the blame for the shooting to the tense political atmosphere, which has only intensified since Trump took office.

“Unfortunately, evil can be inspired by the hateful rhetoric that continues to come from elected officials, media pundits and political operatives at the national level,” Mustello said. “I am steadfast in condemning language and theatrics that inspire people to disregard our laws, damage property, attack first responders and public officials, and that otherwise deny the rights, freedoms and security of other law-biding citizens. It is irresponsible to inspire these types of activities, yet, we continue to see it today.”

Recent examples include the fatal shooting of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and the wounding of her husband, as well as the arson attack against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence.

“Attempts to kill lawmakers or public officials, regardless of motive, are attacks on democracy itself,” McCormick said. “This type of hatred and violence has no place in our country, and it has to stop.”

Bernstine said that words have consequences, saying he believes rhetoric against Trump has incited some to act.

“Something like this can and has happened again,” Longo said. “Freedom dies when violence is used to silence those we disagree with.”

Those close to the situation are proud of how Butler County has rallied around the family of Corey Comperatore, the former Buffalo Township fire chief who was killed during the attack.

“The funeral procession for Corey was a moving experience,” Mustello said. “Such an outpouring of community togetherness, support for a family that met tragedy directly, and an overtone of strength and faith in our country and the freedom that it represents.”

On Saturday, July 12, the day before the first anniversary of the shooting, several events are planned to celebrate Comperatore’s life.

A parade is slated to begin at 9 a.m. in Saxonburg with Comperatore’s wife, Helen, and daughters Allyson and Kaylee, donating a statue of a boy and girl reading to the South Butler Community Library. Corey’s Cruise, a motorcycle rally which will stretch from Buffalo Township to Russellton, will start at 11 a.m. followed by a memorial concert at the destination.

“We know in Butler County, the way that we live our lives every single day, we're good people that go to work and try to provide for our families,” Bernstine said. “I couldn't be more proud to represent these folks.”