Corey Comperatore, a former volunteer fire chief from Sarver, Pennsylvania, tragically lost his life shielding his family from gunfire at a Donald Trump rally. His widow, Helen Comperatore, recounted his final act of bravery, stating that his last words were a simple command to protect themselves.

“He’s my hero,” Helen Comperatore told The New York Post from their home on Monday. “He just said, ‘get down!’ That was the last thing he said.”

She also revealed that she declined a condolatory phone call from President Joe Biden, explaining, “I didn’t want to talk to him. My husband was a devout Republican, and he would not have wanted me to talk to him.”

“I support Trump, that’s who I’m voting for,” she said.

She clarified that she will vote for Trump, but holds no animosity towards Biden, emphasizing, “I don’t have ill-will towards Biden. He didn’t do anything to my husband. A 20-year-old despicable kid did.”

She added that she has not received a call from Donald Trump.

The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the assailant who attempted to assassinate Trump before being neutralized by counter-snipers. Details about Crooks’s political affiliations remain sparse, though he had donated to a Democrat group in 2021 while registered as a Republican voter. Former classmates described him as leaning towards the right or being apolitical.

Several Republican figures have accused Biden of fueling hostility towards Trump, arguing that such rhetoric contributed to the attempted assassination.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Helen Comperatore described how she and Corey had looked forward to a peaceful family outing at the rally, united in their support for the candidate.

The couple, who were high school sweethearts, were set to celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary.