Donald Trump Honors Rally Attendee James Copenhaver After Death

James Copenhaver, a 76-year-old spectator wounded during the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on Donald Trump, died Wednesday at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday confirmed that Copenhaver died from complications related to wounds to his arm and abdomen. He was one of three attendees shot by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper team during the attack.

Donald Trump described Copenhaver as a "true American patriot" and a "tremendous loss" on Truth Social, stating that Copenhaver was wounded while protecting his family. Copenhaver had undergone multiple surgeries for permanent injuries, including kidney damage and bullet fragments, following the shooting.

Prior to his death, Copenhaver and his wife filed a lawsuit against the federal government. The suit alleged that the United States Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security failed to provide adequate security at the Butler rally. Other attendees shot during the event included David Dutch, who survived, and Corey Comperatore, who was killed.