James Copenhaver, 76, who was wounded in the attempt on Donald Trump’s life in 2024, died in Pittsburgh, his lawyer said on Thursday. Copenhaver was one of three attendees at the rally who were hit by gunfire.
Copenhaver was in the stands during the event in Butler, Pennsylvania, when the 20-year-old attacker opened fire. One bullet grazed Trump’s right ear. Copenhaver was hit in the hand and abdomen, and the injuries left him with lasting effects, requiring him to walk with the aid of a cane.
Alongside Copenhaver, two other attendees were hit: David Dutch, who survived, and Corey Comperatore, who was killed while shielding his family from the gunfire. According to the Allegh County coroner’s office, as reported by local media, Copenhaver died on Wednesday at West Penn hospital, which is part of the Allegheny Health Network.
Joseph Feldman, the lawyer, said in a statement on behalf of the family that Copenhaver died surrounded by his closest relatives. The statement did not specify whether his death was directly linked to the injuries sustained at the rally.
Copenhaver and his wife, Marianne Copenhaver, had filed a lawsuit in June, alleging that the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security had “failed” to provide adequate security at the event. His injuries required multiple operations, including a section of the large intestine being removed, and he sustained permanent damage to his kidneys as well as other consequences, including loss of sensation in his leg. In the lawsuit, the injuries were described as “debilitating, severe, permanent and life-changing.”
In a post on social media, Trump on Thursday called Copenhaver “a true American patriot.” He added that “Jim showed great courage, bravely continuing to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, and maintaining a positive spirit despite unimaginable hardship.”
