James Copenhaver, a 76-year-old participant seriously injured during the July 13, 2024, campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Donald Trump was targeted by an assassination attempt, has died from complications related to his gunshot wounds. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday confirmed the death on X, while Donald Trump announced the passing on his Truth Social platform, calling Copenhaver “a true American patriot.”
### Fatal Complications From Butler Rally Shooting
Copenhaver was struck in the arm and abdomen when a gunman opened fire from a rooftop overlooking the political gathering. The attack killed 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore and seriously injured two participants, including Copenhaver, while Donald Trump sustained an injury to the ear.
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by the president’s protection services.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Donald Trump paid tribute to the victim’s resilience. “After being wounded while protecting his family, Jim showed immense bravery, continuing courageously to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, keeping a positive spirit through unimaginable trials,” the Republican leader wrote.
While a family attorney’s statement carried by American media did not specify the exact cause of death, Attorney General Dave Sunday confirmed on X that Copenhaver died from complications tied to the gunshot wounds he sustained on July 13, 2024.
### Federal Lawsuit and Ongoing Legal Accountability
Prior to his death, Copenhaver and his wife, Marianne, filed a federal lawsuit in June against the federal government, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The legal action targeted the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that federal agencies completely failed in their security obligations for the Butler rally.
According to court filings from the lawsuit, Copenhaver underwent multiple surgeries following the shooting. The injuries left him with persistent medical complications, including damage to his kidneys and a loss of sensation in his leg, which his legal representation described as life-altering, disabling, and permanent.