Another Victim of 2024 Rally Shooting Has Died
A second individual injured during the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign rally has passed away.
On Thursday, House Republicans made the announcement regarding the death of James “Jim” Copenhaver, from Moon Township, Pennsylvania. This occurred two years after that incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot in the ear by a gunman positioned on a rooftop.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Copenhaver, who was gravely wounded in the horrific shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania,” House Republicans stated. “Jim endured unimaginable hardship with strength and perseverance. We join his family and loved ones in mourning his loss and praying for them during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
At the time of his passing, Copenhaver was 76 years old, though the specific cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
He was among three civilians shot during the rally, seated just behind Trump, who was aiming for a second term in office at the time.
Another victim, David Dutch, aged 59 and from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, was shot once but was reported to be in stable condition following the shooting.
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer fire chief from Sarver, Pennsylvania, tragically lost his life during the incident while trying to protect his family from the gunfire.
Copenhaver sustained two gunshot wounds—one to his left triceps and another that lodged in his abdomen, leading to damage to his colon and lung. He spent a week recovering in the hospital before being discharged in stable condition.
Nearly a year post-incident, both Dutch and Copenhaver shared their experiences with a local news station. Copenhaver recounted, “I was standing up looking at the Jumbotron behind me, and next thing I know my sleeve has been yanked. I could see a portion of it going by pretty fast, and I heard ‘pew.’ I heard it, and I didn’t realize at the time that I had gotten shot. But I turned around, and that’s when I got the second shot.”
In June, Copenhaver and his wife, Marianne, filed a lawsuit against the federal government. They accused the United States Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security of negligence, stating they failed to provide necessary security measures.
The lawsuit claimed that Copenhaver experienced “grievous, serious, permanent and debilitating” injuries, necessitating multiple surgeries, including a partial colectomy, hernia repairs, and laceration treatment. Remaining bullet fragments in his abdomen would require ongoing monitoring and interventions, as per the legal filing.
