Key facts
- James Copenhaver, who was shot during an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, has died at age 76.
- Copenhaver was shot in the arm and abdomen during the June rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- The gunman, Thomas Crooks, also grazed Trump's ear and killed another attendee, Corey Comperatore.
- Copenhaver died Wednesday at a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Trump called Copenhaver a "true American patriot" on social media.
- Copenhaver and another injured attendee had sued the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security over alleged security failures.
James Copenhaver, who was shot during an assassination attempt on Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has died at age 76. Copenhaver passed away on Wednesday at a hospital in Pittsburgh, according to a statement from the Allegheny County medical examiner.
Copenhaver was one of three attendees struck by gunfire when 20-year-old Thomas Crooks opened fire from a nearby rooftop. The attack also grazed Trump's ear and resulted in the death of another attendee, Corey Comperatore. Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents following the shooting.
Trump, in a social media post, called Copenhaver a "true American patriot" and offered condolences to his family. Copenhaver's attorney stated that his dedication to the U.S. was a defining part of his life, noting his service in the armed forces. In an interview a year after the rally, Copenhaver and fellow attendee David Dutch, who was also shot, described their ongoing recovery from infections and surgeries. Copenhaver had been shot in the arm and abdomen, with a bullet remaining lodged near his spine, causing him to use a cane.
In June, Copenhaver and his wife filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security were liable for their injuries due to alleged security failures at the rally. Republicans in the US House of Representatives also paid tribute to Copenhaver.