A man who was injured in the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, has passed away, according to a statement from his family released on Thursday.
During a campaign rally, a gunman fired, grazing Trump’s right ear with a bullet, while also killing retired firefighter Corey Compatore and injuring two others. Jim Copenhaver, one of those injured, has died, as reported by his family and Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo.
In a statement, the Copenhaver family expressed their sorrow, stating, “James’s dedication to this great country was a defining part of his life. As a veteran, he proudly served our nation in the armed forces, and his love of country never wavered. James was a true American patriot who believed deeply in the freedoms and ideals upon which this nation was founded, and he embodied the very best traits of our great nation.”
Longo shared, “Jim was shot twice at the Butler rally on July 13, 2024. He survived that day, but he never fully recovered from the wounds. For two years he lived with surgeries, remaining fragments, and pain that never left him.”
Copenhaver had filed a lawsuit against the Secret Service on June 1, claiming “negligence, recklessness and/or carelessness” leading up to the shooting by Thomas Crooks. His attorneys have not responded to multiple requests for comments regarding the case.
“It’s no secret that Jim was dealing with permanent injuries from Butler—including having bullet fragments still inside of him,” noted Ken Silva, editor of HeadlineUSA.
The lawsuit also highlighted security failures, stating that an individual acting erratically was able to climb onto the roof of a building and fire eight shots before being neutralized by a counter-sniper.
The Secret Service faced criticism not only for the security lapses during the assassination attempt but also for delays in providing information about the incident that injured Trump. Following this, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned ten days after the attempt after her testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
