Jim Copenhaver, Man Shot at 2024 Trump Rally in Butler, Dies at 76
Jim Copenhaver, one of three attendees shot during Donald Trump's 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has died at age 76, according to the Pennsylvania attorney general.
Copenhaver died Wednesday at a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to a statement from the Allegheny County medical examiner shared with local media.
Copenhaver Was Wounded During the Butler Rally Shooting
Copenhaver was struck twice when a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop during Trump's campaign rally. He was shot in the arm and abdomen.
Another attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed in the shooting, while Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, was killed by Secret Service personnel after opening fire.
A year after the rally, Copenhaver and David Dutch, the third attendee who was shot, said they had undergone infections and surgeries as they recovered from their injuries.
Copenhaver told CBS that a bullet was still lodged in his body near his spine a year after the shooting. The injury caused him to walk with a cane.
Trump Pays Tribute to Copenhaver
Trump paid tribute to Copenhaver in a post on his social media site Truth Social, calling him a "true American patriot."
"More than two years ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, a crazed gunman attempted to stifle our America First Movement. Instead, Jim and so many other wonderful Patriots who love our Country, stood united in defense of our shared values of Freedom, Liberty, and Justice," Trump said.
"Our hearts and prayers are with the Copenhaver family, especially his incredible wife Marianne."
An attorney for Copenhaver's family said his dedication to the United States 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," the lawyer said in a statement to the BBC's U.S. partner CBS News.
Copenhaver and Dutch Sued the Federal Government
Both Copenhaver and Dutch sued the federal government for damages in June. They argued that the Secret Service failed to ensure their safety and should therefore be held liable for their injuries.
Copenhaver's injuries continued to affect him long after the shooting, including the bullet that remained lodged near his spine and the need to use a cane while walking.
Tributes Follow His Death
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives also paid tribute to Copenhaver on Friday, saying in a social media post that he "endured unimaginable hardship with strength and perseverance."
Copenhaver's death marks another loss connected to the 2024 Butler rally shooting, which left one attendee dead, wounded two others and injured Trump.
His family has remembered him for his military service and enduring dedication to the United States.