EASTON, Pa. — Lehigh Valley residents on Sunday were reacting with shock but not surprise to the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
Trump appeared to be grazed by a bullet Saturday in a shooting at a rally near Pittsburgh that left two dead — the suspected shooter and a spectator — and two more critically injured, according to state police.
The FBI is investigating the shooting in Butler, Pa., as an assassination attempt, according to a statement from the organization.
“These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today. <br/>The Pennsylvania State Police continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state and local partners as this investigation continues.”State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris
State police on Sunday identified the deceased victim as Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, Butler County.
The other victims were identified as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Westmoreland County, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Allegheny County. Both were listed in stable condition.
“These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today,” State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris said.
“The Pennsylvania State Police continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state and local partners as this investigation continues.”
Also Sunday, Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered United States and Commonwealth flags on all state facilities, public buildings, and grounds in Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff immediately in honor of Comperatore.
The governor in a release also "extended the prayers of all Pennsylvanians to the two Pennsylvanians who remain hospitalized and their families."
Politicians representing the Lehigh Valley broadly condemned the violence Saturday, while some lamented the supercharged political climate at its roots.
'Happens to my people all the time'
Many in the Valley, like Phillipsburg resident John Menzak, reacted to the news with shock.
“I couldn’t believe it, that he was shot,” Menzak said. “I was shocked that he was not killed.”
However, while the news was stunning, some said, it still was not a surprise that someone tried to kill the former president.
“I just figured that was the next thing, an assassination attempt.”Brian, an Easton resident
Democrats "have been calling [Trump] everything under the sun for eight years,” said Brian, an Easton resident, who declined to reveal his last name.
“I just figured that was the next thing, an assassination attempt.”
“Where was security?” Dan, also a resident of Easton, said he remembered thinking when he first heard news of the shooting. He said he was surprised that someone was able to get so close to killing the former president.
“I’m surprised [no one] tried to assassinate him when he was president, because people have very, very strong feelings one way or the other," Phillipsburg resident Kim Menzak said.
"People have been shot for way less. Ehen JFK was shot, everyone was like, ‘Where’d that come from?’ Trump is shot, you’re like, ‘I kind of saw that coming.’
“If someone pot-shotted Joe Biden, you’d be like, ‘No, I’m not surprised.’”
News of the attempt on Trump’s life was not as impactful for everyone.
“I was just like, ‘Wow, OK,' and kept going about my day,” said Jes, also of Easton. “It happens to my people all the time and nobody raises an eyebrow.”
'People are too divided'
For many, the shooting is the product of a white-hot, profoundly polarized political environment.
“People are too divided. They're too angry,” Dan said. “I mean, it's an election.
"Even if [Trump] wins, he's only going to be in for four years. If Joe [Biden] wins, he's only going to be in for another four years. It's not worth taking a life over — or losing your own, in this case.”
"Violence of all kinds is to be condemned. [But] violence that strikes at presidential candidates of any party is a grave threat to our democratic process. I invite all citizens to pray for former President Trump, and for those killed, injured, and traumatized. May God bless our Nation with peace and civility."Bishop Alfred A. Schlert of the Allentown Diocese
“People can’t have civil discussions anymore,” Brian said. “People need to be more civil, you can disagree... But trying to kill a political opponent? That doesn't cut it.”
“You have to be afraid to talk,” to resort to violence, said Cindy, also of Easton. “It’s been years and years getting here. It will be years and years to go where it should.”
“People are different these days," Kim Menzak said. "It’s all about what they want, when they want it, the rest of the world be damned.
“What do you change? All of society? The entire government, every politician? I don’t know how you change that.”
Bishop Alfred A. Schlert of the Allentown Diocese issued a statement saying, "Violence of all kinds is to be condemned."
But "violence that strikes at presidential candidates of any party is a grave threat to our democratic process," Schlert said.
"I invite all citizens to pray for former President Trump, and for those killed, injured, and traumatized," he said. "May God bless our Nation with peace and civility."
The impact of the assassination attempt could take awhile to come into focus. Some, like Dan, said the shooting likely will galvanize Trump’s popularity with people who might have been more tentatively supporting him before.
“Is this gonna move people one way or the other, who knows?" Brian said. "But it's going to make Trump be a lot more careful going forward."
